The Last Days by Chas. H. Rogers

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1863

The Last Days.

By Chas. H. Rogers

"In the last days perilous times shall come." The apostle to the Gentiles lifts the vail of the mystical future, and through the telescope of inspiration looks down through ages of time, when men would be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and saw that there would be perilous times. The inquiry would naturally arise, How are we to know when we arrive at the last days? The apostle says it will be "when 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 who are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof;" and then he says, "from such turn away." Let us study carefully the specifications here brought to view, and see if such a state of things exists at the present time.

Of whom is the apostle in this fearful catalogue of evils speaking? Is it of those who are of the synagogue of Satan? those who are reviling in sin and wickedness? who spurn everything godly or God-like? No, surely not? He particularizes a certain time and a certain class—the last days, and those who have the form of godliness and deny the power thereof. Thus it can be plainly seen that he has direct reference to those professing to be followers of Christ who are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Now, honest and candid reader, need we look any further in our world's history for a strict fulfillment of this prophecy? I answer, No; for here it is plainly fulfilled before our eyes.

A short time since, where I have been living, the Methodists, in order to finish and decorate their house of worship, got up a theatrical exhibition with a regular admittance fee, to which saint and sinner flocked with equal zeal. In order to pay up the resident minister, they arranged a grand donation party, which terminated in a dance. This is not an isolated instance. When we see those who are the professed followers of Him who was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," indulging in all the frivolities of fashionable life—making the gay party and festive dance a frequent place of attendance, and encouraged in so doing by the leading clergymen, need we look further for the fulfillment of the declaration, "They shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God?" They show plainly by their works that their love for worldly praise and grandeur is paramount to their love of God. O Lord, how long shall these things be, and thy name and worship be desecrated?

Dear brethren and sisters, this is no exaggeration, but facts which can be fully and clearly substantiated. Wicked men and seducers are waxing fearfully worse and worse. We are just entering upon perilous times which will try men's souls. In view of these facts what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness? "Awake, thou that sleepest; arise and Christ will give thee light!" Up, church of Christ, and put on thy beautiful garments; deck thyself in robes of Christ's righteousness, and let thine excellence be known. Show to the world that there is an elevating purity in the religion which you profess. Do any feel that they have endured and suffered for Christ's sake? If so, let them gird up the loins of the mind for fiercer and sterner conflicts, and prepare for the time of trouble such as never was, when God shall visit the nations in the fierceness of his wrath. We have a great work to perform in order to prepare ourselves for a residence in that beautiful, golden city, where sin cannot enter, nor anything that worketh iniquity. Let us set the standard of Christian perfection high, and labor up to it; through tears, groans, tribulation, and anguish if need be, let us come up to the high standing to which God calls us.

Let us search our hearts, purge out the dross, and pray God to purify us by the refining process of the Holy Spirit, that we may be meet to be partakers with the saints in light.

Your brother, desiring to be among the called, the chosen, and faithful. CHAS. H. ROGERS. Greenfield, Wis.