p. 1 | The End by C. H. Rogers

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 13, 1864

The End.

By C. H. Rogers

THE subject of the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is one of the greatest importance, and one which interests every true child of God. It is the grand center of the Christian's hope.

The Saviour gives us a definite sign in Luke xxi, which shall immediately precede the sign of the Son of man, by which we may know without one shade of doubt that the consummation is just before us, yes almost in view: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth."

Let us look about us and see where we are in the world's history. Says the apostle, Mark xiii, 24, "But in those days, after that tribulation," speaking of the persecution during the Papal supremacy, "the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." In addition to this it is recorded by the apostle, Luke xxi, 25, "And upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity."

We wish to inquire before going further, if these signs have taken place. In part they have. During the 1260 years of the Papal supremacy, but after the tribulation, the sun was darkened; we find that the last martyr for the sake of Jesus was put to death in the year 1779; and the next year, 1780, on the 19th day of May, the sun was darkened, and the moon refused to shine according to the prediction.

Thus we see that this startling sign of our coming salvation has taken place far back in the past. The stars shall fall from heaven. This too has met its strict fulfillment in the year 1833. What next?

There shall be distress of nations with perplexity; men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming upon the earth. Has this been fulfilled? I answer, I believe we are living exactly in the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy. Let us take a glance over our world, and what do we see? There is not a nation that pretends to be a nation, but that is waiting, as it were, like the arrow in the high-strung bow, for the guiding hand to send it on its mission of wrath. And while they are thus preparing for some great emergency, they stand in doubt and perplexity, not being certain as to what is the meaning of all this preparation; for in fact such gigantic preparations for war, aggressive and defensive, were never before known since there was a nation on the earth.

All Europe is convulsed in this one motive scheme, while the half-civilized nations of Asia are beating their plowshares into swords, and their pruning-hooks into spears; and they now only wait the will of Jehovah, in whose hands is the destiny of nations, and who takes cognizance of the affairs of men, when there will be such an upheaving and overturning of nations, monarchies and kingdoms, as would be sufficient to startle, if it were possible, the ancient warriors from their dusty beds.

But while across the ocean there is such great commotion, let us draw near and survey our own distracted country. Only a few short years ago the most inveterate hater of our institutions could not be made to believe that this land could be thus convulsed. But the angel of slaughter is abroad in the land, and it is being baptized in the blood and gore of fathers and husbands, brothers and sons, who have gone to preserve their country from the foul and ruthless grasp of traitors.

And now comes the important inquiry, What shall be the end of all these distractions in the world? Now mark the language of the Saviour: There shall be distress of nations with perplexity, and the very next thing in order is, "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." We do not believe that these troubles will cease, until Jesus shall come and drive sin and wickedness from the land. There may be a short time of peace and quiet, while the servants of God are sealed with the seal of the living God, when war and persecution will burst forth in ten-fold fury, and God's people shall be oppressed and persecuted and made perfect; and he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Then brethren and sisters let us be encouraged; time is very short. Already over the hilltops of earth's trials and troubles, the glorious light of eternity's bright morning may be seen resplendent in glory, inviting us to partake of its bliss. Soon we shall be freed from all our trials and temptations. Soon we shall have finished our course. Soon will come the welcome invitation, Child, thy father calls thee, come home.

C. H. ROGERS.

Milton, Wis.