Chapter XIV: Part VII: Coming Events and Signs of the Times (1)

Siege Of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with
armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh." Luke 21:20.

Our Lord’s Great Prophecy

Christ Foretelling The Destruction Of Jerusalem. "When shall these things
be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the
world?" Matt. 24:3.

1. How did Christ feel concerning Jerusalem, as He was about to make His final visit to the city before His crucifixion?

“And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and _wept over it_, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Luke 19:41, 42.

2. In what words did He foretell its destruction?

“For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Verses 43, 44.

3. What pitiful appeal did He make to the impenitent city?

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matt. 23:37.

4. As He was about to leave the temple, what did He say?

“Behold, your house is left unto you _desolate_.” Verse 38.

NOTE.—That which was to fill up their cup of iniquity was their
final rejection and crucifixion of Christ, and their condemnation
and persecution of His apostles and people after His resurrection.
See Matt. 23:29-35; John 19:15; Acts 4-8.

5. Hearing these words, what questions did the disciples ask?

“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24:3.

NOTE.—Christ’s answers to these questions are worthy of the most
careful study. The destruction of Jerusalem and the overthrow of
the Jewish nation attending it are a type of the final destruction
of all the cities of the world, and the overthrow of all nations.
To some extent, therefore, the descriptions of the two great
events seem to be blended. When Christ referred to the destruction
of Jerusalem, His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the
final conflagration when the Lord shall rise out of His place “to
punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity,” and when
the earth “shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her
slain.” Isa. 26:21. Thus the entire discourse was given not for
the early disciples only, but for those who were to live during
the closing scenes of the world’s history. During the discourse
Christ did, however, give definite signs, both of the destruction
of Jerusalem and of His second coming.

6. In His reply, how did Christ indicate that neither the end of the world nor of the Jewish nation was immediately at hand?

“Jesus answered and said unto them, _Take heed that no man deceive you_. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: _for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet_.” Verses 4-6.

7. What did He say of the wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes which were to precede these events?

“All these are _the beginning of sorrows_.” Verse 8.

NOTE.—These were to precede and culminate in the great calamity
and overthrow, first, of Jerusalem, and finally of the whole
world; for, as already noted, the prophecy has a double
application, first, to Jerusalem and the Jewish nation, and
secondly, to the whole world; the destruction of Jerusalem for its
rejection of Christ at His first advent being a type of the
destruction of the world at the end for its rejection of Christ in
refusing to heed the closing warning message sent by God to
prepare the world for Christ’s second advent.

8. In what language did Christ briefly describe the experiences of His people previous to these calamities?

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” Verses 9-12.

9. Who did He say would be saved?

“But _he that shall endure unto the end_, the same shall be saved.” Verse 13.

10. When did Christ say the end would come?

“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_.” Verse 14.

NOTES.—In 60 A.D. Paul carried the gospel to Rome, which was then
the capital of the world. In A.D. 64 he wrote of the saints of
“Cæsar’s household” (Phil. 4:22); and the same year he says that
the gospel had been “preached to every creature which is under
heaven.” Col. 1:23. Very soon after this (October, 66 A.D.) the
Romans began their attacks against Jerusalem; and three and
one-half years later the overthrow of the city and of the Jewish
nation followed in the notable five months’ siege under Titus, in
the spring and summer of 70 A.D.

Thus it was respecting the end of the Jewish nation; and thus it
will be in the end of the world as a whole. When the gospel, or
good news, of Christ’s coming kingdom has been preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations, the end of the world—of all
nations—will come. As the end of the Jewish nation came with
overwhelming destruction, so will come the end of the world.
Armageddon, the battle of the nations, will be fought, and the
world will be swept with the besom of destruction under the seven
last plagues. See readings on pages 296, 301.

11. What sign did Christ mention by which His disciples might know when the destruction of Jerusalem was near?

“And _when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies_, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” Luke 21:20.

12. When this sign appeared, what were the disciples to do?

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea _flee into the mountains_.” Matt. 24:15, 16.

NOTE.—In October, 66 A.D., when Cestius came against the city, but
for some unaccountable reason suddenly withdrew his army from it,
the Christians discerned in this the sign foretold by Christ, and
fled. After the departure of Cestius, Josephus, in his “Wars of
the Jews,” chapter 20, says that “many of the most eminent of the
Jews swam away from the city, as from a ship when it is going to
sink.” It is a remarkable fact that in the terrible siege which
occurred under Titus three and one-half years later, not a single
Christian is known to have lost his life, while 1,100,000 Jews are
said to have perished in it. Here is a most striking lesson on the
value and importance of studying and believing the prophecies, and
giving heed to the signs of the times. Those who believed what
Christ had said, and watched for the sign which He had foretold,
were saved, while the unbelieving perished. So it will be in the
end of the world. The watchful and believing will be delivered,
while the careless and unbelieving will be snared and taken. See
Matt. 24:36-44; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.

13. When the sign appeared, how suddenly were they to flee?

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” Verses 17, 18.

14. Besides telling His disciples when to flee, how did Christ further show His solicitude and tender care for them?

“But pray ye that your flight be not in _the winter_, neither on _the Sabbath day_.” Verse 20.

NOTES.—The winter would be an unfavorable time in which to flee,
entailing discomfort and hardship; and an attempt to flee on the
Sabbath day would doubtless have been met with difficulty, so
false and pharisaical were the notions of the Jews respecting the
true character and object of the Sabbath. See Matt. 12:1-14; Luke
13:14-17; Mark 1:32; 2:23-28; John 5:10-18.

The prayers of Christ’s followers were heard. Events were so
over-*ruled that neither Jews nor Romans hindered the flight of
the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews pursued
after his army, and the Christians thus had an opportunity to
leave the city. The country also had been cleared of enemies who
might have endeavored to intercept them. At the time of this
siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of
Tabernacles, and thus the Christians of Judea were able to escape
unmolested, and in the autumn, a most favorable time for flight.

15. What trying experience did Christ then foretell?

“For _then shall be great tribulation_, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Verse 21.

NOTES.—In paragraph 4 of his preface to his “Wars of the Jews,”
Josephus, referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, says: “The
misfortunes of all men, from the beginning of the world, if they
be compared to these of the Jews, are not so considerable.” In
this terrible calamity, the prophecy of Moses recorded in Deut.
28:47-53, was literally fulfilled. He said, “Thou shalt eat the
fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy
daughters, ... in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith
thine enemies shall distress thee.” For an account of the
fulfilment of this, see Josephus’s “Wars of the Jews,” book 6,
chap. 3, par. 4.

Following the destruction of Jerusalem came the persecution of the
early Christians under the pagan emperors during the first three
centuries of the Christian era, that begun under Diocletian in 303
A.D., and continuing for ten years (Rev. 2:10), being the most
bitter and extensive persecution of God’s people the world had yet
witnessed. Following this came the still greater and more terrible
persecution of the saints during the long centuries of papal
supremacy, foretold in Dan. 7:25 and Rev. 12:6. All these
tribulations occurred under either pagan or papal Rome.

16. For whose sake did Christ say the period of papal persecution would be shortened?

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but _for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened_.” Verse 22.

NOTE.—Through the influence of the Reformation of the sixteenth
century, and the movements which grew out of it, the power of the
Papacy to enforce its decrees against those it pronounced heretics
was gradually lessened, until persecution ceased almost wholly
about the middle of the eighteenth century—the beginning of an
epoch of freedom.

17. Against what deceptions did Christ then warn us?

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Verses 23, 24.

18. Answering the question as to what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the world, what did Christ say?

“_There shall be signs_ in the _sun_, and in the _moon_, and in the _stars_; and upon the earth _distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth_: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26.

19. When were the first of these signs to appear, and what were they to be?

“_Immediately after the tribulation of those days_ shall _the sun be darkened_, and _the moon shall not give her light_, and _the stars shall fall from heaven_.” Matt. 24:29.

20. How is this expressed by Mark?

“But _in those days, after that tribulation_, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” Mark 13:24, 25.

NOTE.—As already noted, papal persecution almost wholly ceased
about the middle of the eighteenth century. Then, true to Christ’s
words, the signs of His coming at once began to appear.

21. When was there a wonderful darkening of the sun?

On May 19, 1780.

NOTE.—May 19, 1780, is known in history as “the dark day.” On this
day over a large portion of the New World, upon which at this time
the eyes of all the world were centered, there occurred, at
midday, a remarkable darkness. “Candles were lighted in many
houses. The birds were silent, and disappeared. The fowls retired
to roost.” In harmony with the impression God evidently designed
should be made by the sign, many thought the day of judgment was
at hand. See next reading.

22. When did the moon refuse to give her light?

The night following the darkening of the sun, May 19, 1780.

NOTE.—Although the moon had fulled only the night before, the
darkness of this night was so intense that for a time no luminous
body whatever appeared in the heavens, and a sheet of white paper
could not be seen when held within a few inches of the eyes. See
next reading.

23. What sign was to follow the darkening of the sun and the moon?

The Dark Day Of May 19, 1780. "Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened." Matt. 24:29.

“And _the stars shall fall from heaven_.” Matt. 24:29.

24. When did the stars fall, as here predicted?

Nov. 13, 1833.

NOTE.—On the morning of Nov. 13, 1833, there occurred the most
wonderful exhibition of shooting stars the world has ever seen.
Those who witnessed it, says Professor Olmsted, the celebrated
astronomer of Yale College, “probably saw the greatest display of
celestial fireworks that has ever been since the creation of the
world, or at least within the annals covered by the pages of
history.” The extent of this shower, he says, “was such as to
cover no inconsiderable part of the earth’s surface.” And, like
the darkening of the sun and moon, it was considered by many who
saw it as “the harbinger of the coming of the Son of man.”

25. What were to be the signs on earth of Christ’s coming?

“And upon the earth _distress of nations_, with perplexity; _the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear_, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26.

NOTE.—This is an exact picture of the condition of things in the
world today. Through greed of gain, lawlessness, licentiousness,
increasing violence, trouble between capital and labor,
international complications, and preparations for war, the nations
are perplexed, and men’s hearts tremble with fear as they look
into the future. The elements are also disturbed, as seen in great
earthquakes and storms on land and sea.

26. What did Christ say was to be the next great event following these signs?

“And then shall they see _the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory_.” Verse 27. See Matt. 24:30.

27. When these things should _begin_ to come to pass, what did Christ tell His people to do?

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then _look up, and lift up your heads_; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28.

28. When the trees put forth their leaves, what do we know?

“Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, _ye know that summer is nigh_.” Matt. 24:32.

29. What may be known with equal certainty when these signs have been seen?

“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, _know that it is near, even at the doors_.” Verse 33. “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, _know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand_.” Luke 21:31.

30. What did Christ say of the certainty of this prophecy?

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:34, 35.

NOTE.—Every one at all acquainted with history knows that what
Christ foretold concerning the destruction of Jerusalem came true
to the very letter. So likewise may we be assured that what He has
said concerning the end of the world will as certainly and as
literally be fulfilled.

31. Who alone knows the exact day of Christ’s coming?

“But of that day and hour _knoweth no man_, no, not the angels of heaven, but _My Father only_.” Verse 36.

32. What did Christ say would be the moral condition of the world just preceding His advent?

“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_.” Verses 37-39.

33. In view of the fact that we do not know the exact time of Christ’s coming, what important admonition has He given us?

“Therefore _be ye also ready_: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Verse 44.

34. What will be the experience of those who say in their hearts that the Lord is not soon coming?

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder [cut him off, margin], and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verses 48-51.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

In the sun, and moon, and stars,
Signs and wonders have appeared;
Earth has groaned with bloody wars,
And the hearts of men have feared.

But, though from His awful face
Heaven shall fade and earth shall fly,
Fear not ye, His chosen race,
Your redemption draweth nigh.

REGINALD HEBER.

Signs Of The Times

Falling Stars At Niagara. "And the stars shall fall from heaven." Matt.
24:29.

1. For what did Christ reprove the Pharisees and Sadducees?

“O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but _can ye not discern the signs of the times_?” Matt. 16:3.

2. What sign had been foretold by the prophet Isaiah by which Christ, at His _first_ advent, might be known as the Messiah?

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, _a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel_.” Isa. 7:14. For fulfilment, see Matt. 1:22, 23.

3. Where had the prophet said Christ should be born?

“But thou, _Bethlehem_ Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel.” Micah 5:2. For fulfilment, see Matt. 2:1.

4. What prophet had foretold Christ’s ride into Jerusalem?

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; _lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass_.” Zech. 9:9. For fulfilment, see Matt. 21:4, 5.

5. What question did the disciples ask Christ concerning His _second_ coming?

“And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and _what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?_” Matt. 24:3.

6. How, according to Luke, did Christ answer this question?

“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; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear_, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:25, 26.

7. What, according to Matthew’s account, did Christ say were to be the signs in the sun, moon, and stars?

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be _darkened_, and the moon shall _not give her light_, and the stars shall _fall from heaven_.” Matt. 24:29.

8. In what language had some of the Old Testament prophets already foretold these signs?

“And _I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth_, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. _The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood_, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:30, 31. “The _sun_ and the _moon_ shall be _darkened_, and the _stars_ shall _withdraw their shining_.” Joel 3:15. “For _the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine_.” Isa. 13:10. “I will cause the sun to _go down at noon_, and I will _darken the earth in a clear day_.” Amos 8:9.

9. When were the sun and moon darkened?

May 19, 1780.

NOTES.—“The nineteenth of May, 1780, was a remarkably 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
__“__Historical Collections.__”_

“In some places persons could not see to read common print in the
open air for several hours together. Birds sang their evening
song, disappeared, and became silent; fowls went to roost; cattle
sought the barn-yard; and candles were lighted in the houses. The
obscuration began about ten o’clock in the morning, and continued
until the middle of the next night, but with differences of degree
and duration in different places.... The true causes of this
remarkable phenomenon are not known.”—_Webster’s Unabridged
Dictionary, edition 1883, page 1604, in article __“__The Dark
Day.__”_

Herschel, the great astronomer, says: “The dark day in Northern
America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will
always be read with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to
explain.” The darkness was not caused by any eclipse of the sun by
the moon, for the moon had fulled only the night before, and
consequently was on the opposite side of the earth from the sun.

“The darkness of the following evening was probably as deep and
dense as ever had been observed since the Almighty first gave
birth to light; it wanted only palpability to render it as
extraordinary as that which overspread the land of Egypt in the
days of Moses. If every luminous body in the universe had been
shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, it
was thought 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.”—_“__Our First
Century,__”__ by R. M. Devins, page 94._

The darkness of the night was as supernatural as that of the
previous day, from the fact, as stated by Dr. Adams, that “the
moon had fulled the day before.”

10. When was there a remarkable display of falling stars?

Nov. 13, 1833.

NOTES.—The celebrated astronomer and meteorologist, Professor
Olmsted, of Yale College, says: “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 fireworks
that has ever been since the creation of the world, or at least
within the annals covered by the pages of history.... The extent
of the shower of 1833 was such as to cover no inconsiderable 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.”

“At Niagara the exhibition was especially brilliant, and probably
no spectacle so terribly grand and sublime was ever before beheld
by man as that of the firmament descending in fiery torrents over
the dark and roaring cataract.”—_The American Encyclopedia,
edition 1881, article __“__Meteor.__”_

Upon reading a statement that modern fireworks excel this greatest
exhibition of shooting stars, Mr. Clarkson, father of the former
editors of the paper from which the following quotation is made,
and himself agricultural editor of it, said: “The writer of that
sentence did not witness the glorious meteoric shower of November,
1833, when the display was so much superior to any artistic
display of fireworks that neither language nor any element in
nature can furnish comparisons. The comparison of the sheet-iron
thunder of the theaters to the electric display of Providence when
the heavens are all on fire, and the earth trembles, would be
tolerable. But the awful grandeur of the display on the night of
the thirteenth of November, 1833, which made the stoutest heart
stand in awe, and the most defiant infidel quake with fear, is
never to be compared with the most brilliant fireworks. Those who
witnessed the meteoric shower named saw the greatest display that
man ever will see until the day that Peter speaks of when the
heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat. The agricultural editor of the _Register_
was out alone with a team and load of lumber all night on that
never-to-be-forgotten night. And he cannot now consent to hear of
human fireworks being superior to that most grand and sublime
spectacle ever before or since beheld by man. Patent fireworks are
no nearer this wonderful phenomenon than a lightning-bug is equal
to the sun.”—_Iowa State Register, July 12, 1889._

Frederick A. Douglas, in his book “My Bondage and My Freedom,”
page 186, says: “I witnessed this gorgeous spectacle, and was
struck with awe. The air seemed filled with bright descending
messengers from the sky. It was about daybreak when I saw this
sublime scene. It was not without the suggestion at that moment
that it might be _the harbinger of the coming of the Son of man_;
and in my state of mind I was prepared to hail Him as my friend
and deliverer. I had read that the stars shall fall from heaven,
and they were now falling.”

A single star appeared to the wise men, and directed them to the
Saviour, at His first advent. Myriads of stars have announced the
nearness of His second advent.

It will be seen that these signs produced the very impression that
God evidently intended that they should,—that the day of judgment,
Christ’s coming, and the end of the world are near at hand.

11. Have we reached the time when there is “distress of nations, with perplexity”?

Every intelligent person knows that the world is in a state of unrest at the present time, and that men are troubled and perplexed at the outlook of present conditions throughout the civilized world.

NOTES.—“Those who study the map of Europe at the present moment,
and the condition of things in Europe, must feel that there is
hanging over us a war-cloud greater than any that has hung over
Europe before. It means when it bursts, and burst it will as
surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, ... a war of extinction, of
devastation, between great nations whose populations are armed and
trained to fight.”—_Lord Wolseley._

“It is impossible for any one to contemplate the present naval and
military arrangements without the gravest forebodings.... In fact,
we never now have any real peace; we live practically in a state
of war.”—_Sir John Lubbock._

“The danger, if the Ottoman Empire fall, would not merely be the
danger that would threaten the territories of which that empire
consists; it would be the danger that the fire there lit should
spread to the other nations, and should involve all that is most
powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous
contest.”—_Lord Salisbury, in Mansion House Speech, London, Nov.
9, 1895._

“There can be no division of either of those countries [Turkey or
Persia] without setting all the nations of Europe at the throats
of each other.”—_Washington Post, April 24, 1909._

“This is the most unsettled condition of the world since the
crucifixion of Christ. The stability of government is no longer a
fact. Change is in the atmosphere.... Statesmen are at their wits’
end. Philosophers speculate in vain.”—_The Late Bishop Newman._

12. Are men’s hearts now “failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”?

Every one familiar with present-day conditions knows that this is the case.

NOTES.—“We are marching toward the unknown. Who knows what
tomorrow has in store for us?”—_Signor Crispi, ex-Prime Minister
of Italy._

The Falling Stars, Nov. 13, 1833. "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but
can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matt. 16:3.

“In regard to the future I am filled with disquietude when I think
how easy it is to fan these international jealousies, and how
difficult it seems to allay them.”—_Lord Balfour, of England._

“In this world of ours we seem to be borne down by commercial and
spiritual controversy.... We grope in the daytime with fear and
trembling for the future. Poor, distracted man is tossed over the
night to a more distraught tomorrow.”—_John Wanamaker,
ex-Postmaster-General of the United States._

“The bonds of society are relaxed; traditional principles are
losing their sacredness, and perils hitherto unknown are menacing
the life of the social organism.”—_Archbishop Ireland._

These, with forebodings of coming droughts, famines, fires,
storms, earthquakes, tidal waves, and pestilences, are filling
men’s hearts with fear.

13. What may be said of “the sea and the waves roaring”?

Great tidal waves and storms at sea, with cyclones and tornadoes on land, have become fearfully frequent of late years, making men apprehensive of still greater calamities to come.

14. What, according to the prophecy of Daniel, was to characterize the time of the end?

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: _many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased_.” Dan. 12:4.

NOTES.—The time of the end began in 1798. See Dan. 7:25; 11:35;
12:4, 9, and the reading “The Kingdom and Work of Antichrist,”
page 218, under questions 5-8. Since 1798 there has been a most
wonderful increase of all kinds of knowledge, both scientific and
religious. Men have been “running to and fro” through both the
world and the Word of God. The prophecies of Daniel are now
themselves understood. Since 1798 five great Bible and tract
societies have been organized; namely, the London Religious Tract
Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the American Bible
Society, the American Tract Society, and the International Tract
Society, besides many smaller societies of the same kind. From
these have gone forth to the world hundreds of millions of copies
of the Bible, and countless pages of tracts and pamphlets,
disseminating knowledge upon the truths of salvation. Besides
these, millions of copies of religious papers are being circulated
annually in the various countries of the world. Missions have been
established in all parts of the world. All this has been
accomplished since 1798.

Concerning the increase of knowledge in the material, scientific,
and intellectual worlds, see the next reading.

15. What is predicted of the moral condition of the world in 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, ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

16. How did the apostle Peter say the message of the Lord’s coming would be treated by some?

“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 Peter 3:3, 4.

17. What will God’s faithful servants be doing at this time?

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to _give them meat in due season_?” Matt. 24:45.

NOTE.—The “meat in due season” here spoken of evidently refers to
the proclamation of the message based upon the signs which
indicate the near approach of the Lord. The preaching of this
message is what causes scoffers mockingly to ask, “Where is the
_promise of His coming_?”

18. What are all admonished to do when these signs have appeared?

“Therefore _be ye also ready_: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Verse 44.

19. How will Christ’s coming overtake those evil servants who say in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth His coming”?

“The lord of that servant shall come in a day _when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of_, and shall _cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites_: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verses 50, 51.

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We know not the hour of the Master’s appearing,
Yet signs all foretell that the moment is nearing
When He shall return,—’tis a promise most cheering,—
But we know not the hour.

There’s light for the wise who are seeking salvation,
There’s truth in the Book of the Lord’s revelation,
Each prophecy points to the great consummation,—
But we know not the hour.

We’ll watch and we’ll pray, with our lamps trimmed and burning,
We’ll work and we’ll wait till the Master’s returning,
We’ll sing and rejoice, every omen discerning,—
But we know not the hour.

F. E. BELDEN.

Increase Of Knowledge

Modern Inventions. "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased." Dan. 12:4.

1. According to the words of the angel to Daniel, when might the world look for an increase of knowledge?

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, _even to the time of the end_: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4.

NOTE.—The prophecies of Daniel were not to be shut up till the
_end_, for then there would be no time either to develop knowledge
or to use the knowledge thus acquired, but until “the _time of the
end_,” which refers to a short period just preceding the end.
During this time there was to be a wonderful increase of
knowledge. Especially were the prophecies of the book of Daniel to
be unsealed, studied, and understood at this time.

2. Until what time were the saints to be persecuted under the Roman power?

“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: because it is yet for a time appointed_.” Dan. 11:35.

NOTE.—The time of the end, as shown by this text, was even then,
in the days of Daniel, an appointed time, in the mind of God. This
is not strange, when we learn that in the Scriptures both the
judgment and the end itself are said to be appointed times. Acts
17:31; Dan. 8:19. The close of the period allotted for this
persecution (1798) was to mark the beginning of “the time of the
end.” See page 223.

3. According to the prophecy, how long was the power represented by the little horn, or papal Rome, to persecute the saints?

“And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, ... and they shall be given into his hand _until a time and times and the dividing of time_.” Dan. 7:25.

NOTES.—As shown in the reading on “The Kingdom and Work of
Antichrist,” page 218, this expression, “a time and times and the
dividing of time,” represents 1260 years, which extend from the
period 533-538 A.D., the time of the decree of Emperor Justinian
recognizing the Pope as head of all the churches and the
successful campaign against Arianism, to the period 1793-98, when,
as a result of the French Revolution, the papal power received its
deadly wound and the Pope was carried into captivity. This, then,
locates the beginning of “the time of the end” in 1798. Up to that
point the book of Daniel, as a whole, was to be closed up; in
other words, not understood by the people. But when the power that
had placed this embargo on the Word of God, and had tried to shut
it away from the people, was broken, then light of all kinds,
Biblical, scientific, inventive, and industrial, began to shine
and penetrate in every direction.

It is a singular and striking fact that immediately following the
overthrow of the papal power in 1798, Bible societies, tract
societies, and Sunday-schools sprang up in large numbers. The
London Religious Tract Society was organized in 1799, the British
and Foreign Bible Society in 1804, the American Bible Society in
1816, and the American Tract Society in 1825. The Bible has now
been translated into about four hundred and fifty languages and
dialects, and sent to every part of the globe. Before that time
access to the Bible was confined to comparatively few. Now the
humblest person may possess it, and is as free to read and study
it as is the most exalted in the land. A little more than one
hundred years ago there was not a Sunday-school in the world, the
first one being organized by Robert Raikes, at Gloucester,
England, in 1784. Now there are more than 285,000 such schools,
with over 28,000,000 officers, teachers, and pupils.

4. What may be said of the developments in the line of scientific inventions since 1798?

These have been remarkable, phenomenal, and without parallel in the history of the world. The people of a century and a quarter ago knew nothing of steamships, steam and electric railways, telegraphs, telephones, photographs, phonographs, sewing-machines, anesthetics, submarine cables, linotypes, monotypes, motion pictures, X-rays, aeroplanes, or wireless telegraphy. Were they to be raised from the dead, they would be as much astonished at all these things as would the people of four thousand years ago.

NOTES.—“Of a verity, this is the age of invention.”—_Scientific
American._

“The great facts of the nineteenth century stand out so
conspicuously above the achievements of any preceding century that
it would be affectation of humility not to recognize and speak of
them.”—_Union Hand-*book, 1870._

“The most striking characteristic of our times is the rapid
strides which the world is making in science, general
intelligence, and inventions.”—_Chicago Republican, March 14,
1872._

“Never was there such activity of invention within the history of
mankind as at the present day.”—_Phrenological Journal, April,
1871._

“More has been done, richer and more prolific discoveries have
been made, grander achievements have been realized, in the course
of the fifty years of our lifetime than in all the previous
lifetime of the race.”—_London Spectator._

Some of the principal inventions and discoveries of modern times
are the following:—

The balloon in 1798.
Gas for lighting purposes in 1798.
Cast-iron plow in 1800.
Steel pen in 1803.
Steamboat in 1807.
Steam printing-press in 1811.
Revolver in 1818.
Railroad-cars in 1825.
Lucifer-match in 1829.
Reaper and mower in 1833.
Electric telegraph in 1837.
Electrotyping in 1837.
Photography in 1839.
Sewing-machine in 1846.
Anesthesia by ether in 1846.
Anesthesia by chloroform in 1847.
Submarine cable in 1851.
Gatling gun in 1861.
Monitor war-ship in 1862.
Typewriter in 1868.
Automatic air-brake in 1872.
Telephone in 1876.
Phonograph in 1877.
Electric railway in 1879.
Modern seismograph in 1880.
Linotype in 1885.
Steam-turbine in 1888.
Roentgen or X-ray in 1895.
Wireless telegraphy in 1895.
Motion pictures in 1895.
Monotype in 1896.
Radium in 1902.
Aeroplane, first successful flying, Dec. 17, 1903.

It will be noticed that none of these inventions antedate 1798. Go back a little over a century and we find the world about where it was in the days of the patriarchs. For thousands of years there seemed to be scarcely any advancement or improvement in knowledge. But suddenly with the opening of the nineteenth century, the world awoke from its long sleep, and a new era dawned,—the time of the end, when knowledge was to be increased.

5. What did the Saviour say should precede the end?

“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. 24:14.

NOTE.—Luther, the Wesleys, and others could not, in their day,
proclaim the Lord’s coming to be at hand, as the signs heralding
this event had not taken place. But now, the sun and moon have
been darkened, and the stars have fallen, as predicted by the
Saviour knowledge has most wonderfully increased, as stated by the
angel to Daniel; and the gospel has gone to nearly every kindred,
tribe, and people in the world. Therefore we may know that the end
is near.

6. When we see all these things, what are we to know?

“When ye shall see all these things, _know that it is near, even at the doors_.” Verse 33.

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Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring;
Jesus is coming again!
Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sing;
Jesus is coming again!

Echo it, hilltops, proclaim it, ye plains;
Jesus is coming again!
Coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain;
Jesus is coming again!
JESSIE E. STROUT.

Conflict Between Capital And Labor

Race For Supremacy. "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of
thee." Luke 12:20.

1. What is one reason why the last days were to be perilous?

“Men shall be _lovers of their own selves, covetous_.” 2 Tim. 3:2.

2. When, according to prophecy, were men to amass great wealth?

“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 treasure together for the last days._” James 5:1-3.

NOTE.—We have reached the age of vast accumulations of wealth,
when there seems to be a mad rush for making money quickly, and
the millionaire and the multimillionaire are much in evidence.
Speaking on this subject, Rev. H. W. Bowman, in his work “War
Between Capital and Labor,” says: “Such colossal fortunes, such
hoarding of treasures, such combinations of wealth, with such
rapid increase in poverty, were never witnessed before. Our age
alone fits the prophetic mold.”

3. Why did Christ, in the parable, reprove the man who hid his talent?

“Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: _thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury_.” Matt. 25:26, 27.

NOTE.—“Servility to wealth,” says J. S. Mill, “is a social curse.”
Vespasian spoke truly when he said, “Riches are well, if gotten
well and well spent;” and Peter Cooper likewise uttered a great
truth when he said, “A man of wealth is but a steward for the good
of mankind.” James A. Patten, the retired Chicago millionaire
wheat broker, announcing his intention to give away his fortune to
charity, said: “I believe a man should give away a good share of
his wealth while he is living. He can’t take a dollar out of the
world with him, although I know some men who seem to believe they
can. Personally, I mean to get rid of the most of my fortune. I
hope to help many charitable institutions before I die. I doubt
the advisability of leaving any great sum of money to one’s
children. Many lives have been ruined by large bequests. The
offspring of a rich man are better off if they are required to
hustle for themselves.”—_Washington Times, Nov. 5, 1910._

4. What did Christ tell the rich young man to do?

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, _go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor_, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Matt. 19:21.

5. What, in the parable, did God say to the rich man who thought to build larger barns in which to store his goods?

“But God said unto him, _Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee_: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:20.

6. How does James say the rich have lived?

“_Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton_; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.” James 5:5.

NOTE.—This indicates that they have lived in luxury and for
pleasure, quite heedless of the needs of the poor and of the great
world about them. They have lived simply to have a good time
themselves, with no thought of their responsibility to God or to
their fellow men.

7. Who gives men the power to get wealth?

“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for _it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth_.” Deut. 8:18.

8. How does James say the rich have treated the just?

“_Ye have condemned and killed the just_; and he doth not resist you.” James 5:6.

NOTE.—There is nothing more rapacious and heartless than greed, or
covetousness. To obtain its ends, it disregards the rights, the
welfare, and even the lives of those affected by its merciless
schemes and intrigues. The righteous, or just, however, do not
make forcible resistance to this unjust treatment.

9. How have the rich defrauded the laborers?

“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 are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.” Verse 4.

10. Seeking a fair remuneration, what do many laborers do?

Form labor-unions, engage in strikes, boycotts, etc.

NOTE.—While these means may hold matters in check for a time, and
afford temporary relief, they cannot eradicate the evil, and bring
about a final solution. The evil is deep-seated; it lies in the
heart; and nothing but conversion—a change of the heart and of the
affections—can eradicate it. It is the sin of selfishness, or
covetousness,—a failure to love one’s neighbor as oneself. The
conflict between capital and labor is an inevitable and an
irrepressible conflict as long as sin and selfishness are in the
world. And near the end it becomes the most acute and intense,
because then sin comes to the full.

11. Do the Scriptures indicate that there will be violence manifested in this conflict?

“Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! _Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?_” Hab. 2:6, 7.

12. Would God have His people unite in these combinations?

“_Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy_; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.” Isa. 8:12.

13. Whom should we fear and dread?

“Sanctify _the Lord of hosts Himself_; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.” Verse 13.

14. What are God’s people told to do at this time?

“_Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord._ Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. _Be ye also patient_; stablish your hearts: _for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh_.” James 5:7, 8.

15. What commands obeyed would bring about a peaceful solution to this wide-spread and growing conflict?

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 22:39. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Phil. 2:4. “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Matt. 7:12.

Christ’s Second Coming

Christ Answering His Disciples’ Questions. "When ye shall see all these
things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:33.

1. What promise did Christ make concerning His coming?

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, _I will come again_, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3.

2. Following the signs of His coming, what did Christ say would take place?

“And then shall they see _the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory_.” Luke 21:27.

3. Will the world be prepared to meet Him?

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and _then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn_, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and _all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him_.” Rev. 1:7.

4. Why will many not be prepared for this event?

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, _My lord delayeth his coming_; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 24:48-51.

5. What will the world be doing when Christ comes?

“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 till the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Verses 37-39. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; _they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded_; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30.

NOTE.—The idea is, not that it is wrong in itself to eat, drink,
marry, buy, sell, plant, or build, but that men’s minds will be so
taken up with these things that they will give little or no
thought to the future life, and make no plans or preparation to
meet Jesus when He comes.

6. Who is it that blinds men to the gospel of Christ?

“In whom _the god of this world_ hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, which is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Cor. 4:4.