THE LAST WAY-MARKS by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 11, 1856

THE LAST WAY-MARKS.

By Editor

WE are not treading upon fanciful or imaginary ground when we seek from the scriptures of truth, the evidences of the approaching end of the world. All along the stream of time, God has set up way-marks of the final consummation, to arrest the attention of the heedless, and to comfort and encourage the believing. If we pay no attention to these, if we heed not the warnings given, if we shut our eyes to the light of the Word, then may we justly be ranked with those who were condemned by our Lord because they knew not the time of their visitation. Luke xix, 44.

But it is not our design in these remarks to go into a lengthy exposition of the signs of the times, but only to call attention to the place we occupy in some of the important chains of prophecy that lead us to the end. We believe that we have reached the last link to be fulfilled this side of the close of probation, in the series of predictions which we will now specify.

1. In the development of the kingdom of Rome centers the last fulfillment in this world of three important prophecies of the book of Daniel.

1st. Rome is the last universal kingdom symbolized by the great image of Dan. ii. First, Rome in its consolidated form; second, Rome in its weak and divided state. "And whereas thou sawest the feet and the toes part of potter's clay and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided." We are now passing down the swift current of time thirteen hundred and seventy-three years this side of that division; for it was between the years 356 and 483 that it took place; and yet "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom." Whether many years can now elapse before the establishment of that kingdom which the saints shall possess, all can judge for themselves.

2d. Rome under the second symbol of a beast dreadful and terrible, [Dan. vii.] has fulfilled all its specifications. The ten horns have arisen; the little horn plucking up three of the others in its development has held its sway the allotted space of a time, times and dividing of time; the Papacy has multiplied its acts of arrogance, till the great outline which prophecy gave, is completely filled. What did Daniel see next? "I beheld till the beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame;" an event to which Paul looked when he spoke of that "Wicked," whom the Lord should consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and destroy by the brightness of his coming. 1 Thess. ii, 8.

3d. Rome under the third symbol of a little horn waxing exceeding great, [Dan. viii.] in order to the complete fulfillment of the prophecy, is only waiting to be "broken without hand."

2. In the course of events revealed to us in the thirteenth of Revelation, it is no less evident that the closing scenes are at no great distance. The last events there marked out to transpire in time, are the rise and actions of the Two-horned Beast. Sustained in our view by evidences which cannot be set aside, that this is a symbol of our own country, we already see it developed before us. So completely have the United States in their rise and progress answered to the symbol of the Two-horned Beast, that an infidel might be tempted to believe as Porphyry said of the book of Daniel, that the prophecy was written after the events transpired. The Two-horned Beast, as a beast, is already come to full maturity. There yet remain a few acts to be performed by him, which he will not be slow to do when the saints come up to their high privilege; and his course is then finished. What did John next behold? A glorious scene: "I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."

3. Our relation to the future is shown us again in the messages of the three angels of Rev. xiv. The first angel goes forth with the everlasting gospel. Many of us were eye-witnesses of his work. The second follows him. We have witnessed this also. The third follows them with his fearful warnings against the worship of the beast and his image, his recognition of those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and the blessing for those who die in the Lord from henceforth. Is this message now sounding in our ears? In a plain series of prophetic events have we seen three great moves, obedient to the voice of prophecy, follow on after each other in their appointed order? This we cannot doubt. What then is the next event in the series? Mark it well. Three links in the chain are comprehended in the past and the present. But the prophecy does not leave us here. What next? "I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." None can fail to recognize the event which is brought to view under such a symbol as this; nor can we be at a loss therefore to know the event that most claims our attention, and demands for its approach a speedy preparation.

4. Again, the course of the church, down to her final triumph, is shown in Rev. ii and iii. The declarations of the Scriptures, and our actual condition as a people, are enough to set it home upon every mind that we are in the seventh and last state there brought to view. What is the very next scene beyond this? The overcomers sitting with Christ on his throne.

The warning of the Third angel, and the message of the True Witness, the one to the world, and the other to the church, must strike every one as being peculiarly appropriate for the last to be given. In the final note of alarm which mercy sounds to a rebellious world, and a lukewarm church, we might expect to find terms employed, and scenes presented, terrible in proportion to the crisis of which they are designed to warn us. And it is even so. Point to a more fearful judgment, brought to view in the word of God, than that presented by the Third Angel. It cannot be done. And what severer threat could the Lord give his lukewarm people, than that he would spue them out of his mouth? Can a more utter and terrible rejection be conceived of? If the warning of the Third Message does not induce some to turn from the worship of the beast, and if the rebuke and counsel of the True Witness do not arouse some from a drowsy church, then may we despair of ever seeing a people prepared for the events before us.

Another consideration may be drawn from the Saviour's parable of the wheat and tares. Matt. xiii: "Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest, I will say unto the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn." Is not the binding of the tares fulfilling before us in the formation of almost numberless secret societies, and other combinations, bound together by oaths and pledges of every kind? Says the British Messenger, "Our day is amazingly prolific of unlooked-for combinations. . . . We have persons of nearly every form of unbelief banded together, under the colors of secularism, for the purpose of sapping the foundations of religion, and of diffusing throughout the working population of the country, the demoralizing and soul-destroying tenets of infidelity. And we have individuals of every creed and church, joining together to offer united and determined resistance to the progress of social evils and ecclesiastical intolerance, persecution and tyranny."

This was the language of the British Messenger two years ago; and there certainly has been no decrease of such combinations since that time. Thus the wicked are being gathered into bundles to burn; and what comes next? "Gather the wheat into my barn." Matt. iii, 12.

From these few considerations alone, it is evident that we are passing the last way-marks on our journey heavenward, the last milestones this side the city; and what are our emotions, as we think upon these things? We can readily imagine how unwelcome the news of the Saviour's approach is to those who love him not. To those who are placing their affections on things on the earth; who are laying up treasure here, forgetful of the true riches; who are laying plans for enjoyment far in the future which they would be unwilling to have interrupted by the coming of the Lord;—to such we can readily imagine, it is unwelcome news. But it is not so to the believer. No genuine pilgrim was ever sorry to learn that he had almost reached his journey's end; no wandering exile was ever sorry to learn that he would soon return to his father's land; no one, long separated from a beloved friend, was ever sorry to learn that he would meet him soon.

So it is with us. We can behold with joy the final way-marks of our journey. We can look up and lift up our heads, knowing that our redemption draweth nigh. The nearer we draw to the banks of deliverance, the more may we become lost to this world, having our affections on the world to come; the more may we forget the evils of the present, in anticipation of the joys of our future home.

Let these considerations renew our courage. Let us give no quarter to any scheme that would lead us to pause for a moment in the great preparation. The few moments that now intervene between us and the coming of the Just One, are fraught with eternal interest. Let not one run to waste, or, worse than that, be misspent. Says the Lord, "Have I not commanded

thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Josh. i, 9.