Chapter III: Part 3

But the Lord calls Noah into the ark. And by the hand of Providence the beasts are led into the ark; and the Lord shuts Noah in. This is regarded at first by the scoffing multitude as something wonderful; but it is soon explained away by the wiser ones, so as to calm their fears, and they breathe easier.

The day of expectation finally arrives. The sun rises as usual, and the heavens are clear. “Now where is old Noah’s flood?” is heard from a thousand impious lips. The farmer is caring for his herds and lands, and the mechanic is pursuing his work of building. On this very day, some are being joined in marriage. With many it is a day of unusual feasting and sports. And while all are looking to long years of future prosperity and happiness, suddenly the heavens gather blackness. Fear fills every heart. The windows of heaven open, and the rain descends in torrents. “The fountains of the great deep are broken up,” and here and there come gushing up rivers of water. The valleys are fast filling up, and thousands are swept away in death. Awful death! made still more horrible by being in consequence of slighted mercy! But where is Noah? Ah! safe in the ark, borne upon the billows. Safe from the flood, for God “shut him in.”

By some people, the evidences of the soon coming of Christ are considered insufficient to base faith upon. But the testimony and acts of one man in the case of Noah, condemned the people destroyed by the flood. The evidences then were sufficient, otherwise the world would not have been condemned. But a hundred times more convincing evidences come pouring in upon us that the day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly. We follow down the several prophetic chains of Daniel and of the Revelation, and we find ourselves in every instance standing just before the day of wrath. We see the signs spoken of by prophets, by Christ, and by the apostles, fulfilling or fulfilled. And at the right time, and in the right manner, to fulfill certain prophecies, a solemn message arises in different parts of the world: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1. Wherever we look, we see prophecy fulfilling. While the knowledge of God and the spirit of holiness are departing, spiritual wickedness, like a flood, covers the land.

But these evidences are considered insufficient to rest faith upon. Well, what kind of evidence would the unbelieving have? “When the signs of the end,” says the skeptic, “are fulfilled, they will be so plain that no one can doubt.” But if the signs are of such a nature, and are fulfilled in such a manner, as to compel all to believe in the coming of Christ, how can it be as it was in the days of Noah? Men were not then compelled to believe. But eight believing souls were saved, while all the world besides sank in their unbelief beneath the waters of the flood. God has never revealed his truth to man in a manner to compel him to believe. Those who have wished to doubt his word, have found a wide field in which to doubt, and a broad road to perdition; while those who have wished to believe, have ever found an everlasting rock upon which to rest their faith.

Just before the end, the world will be hardened in sin, and indifferent to the claims of God. Men will be careless in regard to the warnings of danger, and blinded by cares, pleasures, and riches. An unbelieving generation will be eating, drinking, marrying, building, planting, and sowing. It is right to eat and drink to sustain nature, but the sin is in excess and gluttony. The marriage covenant is holy, but God’s glory is seldom thought of. Building, planting, and sowing, necessary for convenient shelter, food, and clothing, are right; but the world has gone wholly after these things, so that men have no time nor disposition to think of God, heaven, Christ’s coming, and the Judgment. This world is their god, and all their energies of body and mind are made to serve it. And the evil day is put far away.

The faithful watchman who sounds the alarm as he sees destruction coming, is held up before the people from the pulpits of our land, and by the religious press, as a fanatic, a teacher of dangerous heresies; while in contrast is set forth a long period of peace and prosperity to the church. So the churches are quieted to sleep. The scoffer continues to scoff, and the mocker mocks on. But that day is coming. Thus saith the prophet of God:—

“Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a
destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint,
and every man’s heart shall melt. And they shall be afraid; pangs
and sorrows shall take hold of them.... Behold, the day of the
Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the
land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of
it.” Isa. 13:6‐9.

The Day of Wrath.

Most dreadful day! and is it near?—Yes; it hasteth! It hasteth greatly! What a description given by the prophet! Read it; and as you read, try to realize how dreadful will be that day:—

“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth
greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man
shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of
trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of
darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day
of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against
the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they
shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the
Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh
as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to
deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land
shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy; for he shall make
even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zeph.
1:14‐18.

Peace And Safety.

The attitude of the religious world toward this most important subject is worthy of more than passing notice both because of its effect upon the cause of truth and also because it of itself is a sign of the times. While it is true that many individuals in the different Christian denominations recognize with more or less distinctness the fact that we are living in the last days, with many of these it does not become a practical truth. Outside of these there are many who ridicule the idea as preposterous and outlandish; and in opposition to the message that Christ is soon coming, raise the cry of, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Such teaching is alluded to by the prophet in Eze. 13:10, 11.

The groundwork of the peace and safety cry is the doctrine of the temporal millennium. This teaches that the world is now entering, or about to enter upon a period of universal peace and good will, that the moral tone of the world is improving, men and nations are learning righteousness; and the gospel of Christ is about to become the controlling principle in public and private life. And, further, this happy state will continue for one thousand years, which period of time the word millennium literally signifies. At the end of that time, perhaps, the Lord will come. However, if this doctrine be true, it will make but little difference to this generation or to the one living at the close of the period whether he does or not. The verses we have just considered which liken the last days to those of Noah wholly disprove this position. In addition to what Matthew states, Luke gives a still more forcible version of our Saviour’s words:—

“And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days
of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives,
they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into
the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 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 17:26‐30.

Paul writes in his epistles to Timothy as follows:—

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1.

“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, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.” 2 Tim. 3:1‐5.

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived.” Verse 13.

In very many scriptures it is plainly declared that when Christ comes, he comes not only to reward and save his people but also to punish his enemies. Looking upon the last days he exclaims, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. The idea of a thousand years of peace and righteousness before Christ comes might be dismissed as utterly out of the question. But space will be given to one or two passages supposed to teach it, which will represent the whole class. The first and chief is found in Isa. 2:2‐4:—

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of
the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go
up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall
rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into
ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more.”

Almost the same language is used in Micah 4:1‐3. It is enough to call attention to the authorship of the propositions contained in the text. They come from the people. “Many people shall go and say, Come ye,” etc. Inspiration asserts that in the last days the mountain or power of the Lord’s house or church shall be established in the tops of the mountains, or civil power. Undoubtedly it will. Everything is tending to the union of Church and State and the professed church of Christ is riding on a high tide to civil power in all lands. But farewell to godliness and spiritual power. When this is accomplished, in a general chorus all will proclaim the dawning millennium.

How the Lord regards the people who are saying these things is shown in the succeeding verses:—

“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob,
because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers
like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children
of strangers. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither
is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of
horses, neither is there any end of their chariots: their land
also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands,
that which their own fingers have made.” Isa. 2:6‐8.

Now let us see what God says on the same point and concerning the same time:—

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; prepare war, wake up the
mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into
spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and
come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about:
thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the
heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for
there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in
the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the
press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of
the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon
shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The
Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord
will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children
of Israel.” Joel 3:9‐16.

Mark, this is not what the people say, but what the Lord says of the very same time when the people are preaching a good time coming.

Another verse referred to, and representing quite a numerous class of similar ones, is found in Num. 14:21.

“But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the
glory of the Lord.”

There is no occasion to modify or limit the meaning of those words; for their utmost significance will be realized. But when?—When sin and the curse are wiped away. After the purifying fires of the day of the Lord have burned up the last work and relic of rebellion, and the earth made new in Edenic glory comes again from the hand of its Maker, as beautiful, yea, more beautiful, if possible, than at first. It would not be within the limits of this pamphlet to follow out this subject, but the reader is referred to the following scriptures: Isa. 65:17‐22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22, and to published works.

In that state this and all kindred scriptures will meet a fulfillment that is ample and complete. But for such a condition of things this side of the coming of Christ neither the Bible nor the trend of events give any promise whatever.

Judging of the probability of the conversion of the world from the facts, it would seem to be far from striking. The following table gives a comparatively accurate showing of the present religious status of the world:—

Jews and Parsees 15,470,000 Greek Catholics 84,136,000 Protestants 114,815,500 Brahminical Hindoos 120,000,000 Mohammedans 122,400,000 Roman Catholics 255,000,000 Pagans 227,000,000 Buddhists 482,000,000 Unclassified 51,050,000

Concerning the very small proportion of this number classed in the list of Christians, Bishop Foster has very aptly said:—

“There are some who too fondly anticipate a millennium. There is a
lack of information on the progress of Christianity. The facts are
misstated daily in pulpits all over the country. Ministers
hesitate to present the worst side for fear of causing
discouragement, and they create hopes that are never realized. We
are not at the dawn of a millennium. Compared with the work to be
done, the past is nothing. Our children’s children for ten
generations to come must labor harder than we are doing, to
accomplish the conversion of the world. The world’s population is
1,500,000,000. Of these, Christians number less than a third; and
half of that third belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. The
Protestants number 114,000,000. They are divided into 500 sects.
And this number of their strength includes, also, all the thieves,
ex‐convicts, the debased, besotted, and the speckled and streaked
in Christendom.”—_Northwestern Christian Advocate of Dec. 2,
1885._

Farther on in the same article the Bishop said:—

“Before us we have the great problem—the 1,100,000,000 of pagans
to convert to Christianity. That is the solid rock that looms up
in our path. Look at it; see what work has been done in 1800
years, and how much is yet to be accomplished. In India, after
more than a hundred years of mission work, we have 600,000 native
converts and 2,000,000 Christians among 260,000,000 heathen. Can
we remove that solid boulder that is as old as the hills?... Our
Methodist Church we think the most divine and ineffable. We boast
that we are going to conquer the world, and come from our palaces
and princely farms to subscribe fifty cents a head for the
undertaking! It is a burning disgrace that excites pity and
disgust.”

And as to the prospects for universal peace, the following recent statement of the armament of Europe does not indicate that the nations are really contemplating such a happy consummation:—

Russia: 1,519,810 men, 181,000 horses, 2,084 cannon Germany: 835,000 men, 96,000 horses, 2,022 cannon Austria: 856,980 men, 58,125 horses, 1,600 cannon England: 478,800 men France: 1,850,000 men

The remaining states of Europe make up with the above a total of about 6,000,000 men.

The Final Separation.

VERSES 40, 41: “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be
taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the
mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

This language shows the final separation between the righteous and the wicked. There is no elaborate explanation as to how the circumstances will meet their fulfillment, but that is not the essential force of the text. The line will in some cases be drawn between those who are intimately related. Some members of the same family will be taken away by the judgments of God, while others will be left to receive their coming Lord.

Those Who Watch Will Know The Time.

VERSES 42‐44: “Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your
Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house
had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have
watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh.”

The injunction to watchfulness is repeatedly given by our Saviour in connection with his teaching in reference to his second advent. These injunctions must apply especially to those who live in proximity to that event. This fact is convincing evidence that the Lord is not displeased with those who anticipate his coming, and study the word in reference to it. No one watches for that which he does not expect, and indifference or aversion toward the coming of Christ is sure evidence of coldness toward Christ himself. If we love Jesus, we shall love his appearing and if we love his appearing, we shall be eagerly watching and waiting for it. But if we knew the hour when he would come, we should not watch for his coming, nor could we with eagerness expect his coming if we had no knowledge of its approach. The course of time has been measured off in definite periods down to the beginning of the present generation. The time from the end of the prophetic periods to the coming of Christ is emphatically the waiting, watching time. Those who watch, as our Lord commands, will eventually know the time. No man will make it known, for it is not revealed to man in the Scriptures. Angels will not make it known, though they may minister to, and communicate with, the children of men. Neither will the Son. But the Father will make it known when he speaks again from heaven.

It is undoubtedly true that the unscriptural and irrational course pursued by many so‐called Adventists in repeatedly setting a time of their own for the Lord to come has had the effect to disgust many with the whole matter. This is the enemy’s work. He will seek thus to obscure each truth by bringing it into the shadow of reproach. But it is unwise to be thus misled. Probably there is no prophecy that better describes the present state of unbelief in the world in regard to the second advent, caused partly by fanatical time‐movements, than the following:—

“Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of
Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God: I will make this
proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in
Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of
every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor
flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the
Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to
pass; it shall be no more prolonged, for in your days, O
rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith
the Lord God.” Eze. 12:22‐25.

The burden of this prophecy is time; therefore the word here mentioned that the Lord will speak, will be the time. Rev. 3:3, is also to the point:—

“Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and hold
fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come
upon thee.”

Those who do not watch, will not know the hour. Those who watch will know the hour.

The present watching, waiting position requires much faith and patience. Says Paul:—

“Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God [in proclaiming the coming of Christ],
ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that
shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live
by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure
in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but
of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Heb. 10:35‐39.

Says James: “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.

Jesus says: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10.

The present position and present duty of God’s people are defined in Rev. 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

The Faithful And Wise Servant.

VERSES 45‐47: “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his
lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due
season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler
over all his goods.”

In this figure, Christ is represented as the Lord of the household of faith (see Mark 13:35; Heb. 3:6), leaving his house, and committing the work of caring for his church to his servants. A blessing is promised those servants who are found faithfully discharging this duty when their Lord comes. They are to feed the flock of God, over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them overseers. Acts 20:28. They must preach the word. 2 Tim. 4:2. They should watch for souls as they that must give account. Heb. 13:17. They will not only give meat to the household, but they will give it in due season. They will preach the _present_ truth.

And meat in due season when Christ’s coming draws near, will be the gospel of the kingdom. Verse 14. It will embrace warnings, instructions, and encouragements pertaining to a message that is designed and adapted to prepare the world for so solemn an event. Suppose, for a moment, that when Noah had received his message of the coming flood to give to the world, he had reasoned with worldly wisdom that as such a thing never had occurred, and from all appearances seemed very unlikely to occur, and hence to preach it would subject him to reproach, it would be better to avoid any particular allusion to such an unwelcome subject. His preaching seemed to excite only ridicule. He could retain his own private convictions and preach the ordinary principles of righteousness, saying, “Do not so, my brethren.” And if the people were only prepared for the flood, that would be all that would be necessary. Of such a course we can say two things. He would thus have proved very unfaithful to his trust, and the blood of his fellow‐men would have been upon him; and he would have done just as thousands are doing now. He certainly would not have represented the faithful and wise servant. So it is now. A solemn responsibility is placed upon the watchmen:—

“Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto
them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the
land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the
trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of
the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take
him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound
of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.
But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the
watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from
among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I
require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set
thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt
hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” Eze. 33:2‐7.

When Jesus comes, the faithful servants will be found proclaiming his coming and teaching the necessary preparation. The Saviour speaks of such as “faithful and wise.”

1. He is faithful. As a faithful watchman, he will give timely warning when he sees the sword coming. His work just before the end, is seen in the following scriptures:—

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy
mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day
of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show
my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”
Isa. 58:1.

“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 into fables. But watch thou in all
things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make
full proof of thy ministry.” 2. Tim. 4:1‐5.

2. He is wise. “He that winneth souls is wise.” He must be wise. He will hold forth the truth in its harmony and beauty, and thus expose error and win men to the truth. When it becomes his duty to “reprove and rebuke,” it will be at a proper time and place, and then with all “long‐suffering and doctrine.” He will study to show himself “approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15.

The Evil Servant.

VERSES 48‐51: “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.”

What the evil servant says and does, shows most clearly the position and work of the faithful and wise servant. The evil servant says, “My lord delayeth his coming,” because the faithful servant is proclaiming the coming of his lord. The evil servant smites the faithful servant, because he teaches the soon coming of his Lord. The faithful servant, true to his commission to preach the “gospel of the kingdom” to a fallen church and a scoffing world, toils on, and for this the evil servant smites him. Not with the fist, perhaps, but with the tongue of obloquy and reproach. That there should be professed servants of Christ engaged in smiting those who are faithfully warning the world, need not cause surprise in view of the past, but must cause sorrow in the heart of every lover of truth. The wicked servant says in heart, and some are saying with their lips, The Lord is not coming. The world is now just starting out upon its career of knowledge and enjoyment. Where is the promise or indication of his coming? Some say, He may come to‐night, he may not come in a million years, thus neutralizing the truth. Such men will be found criticising and discounting the Scriptures and subjecting them to the tests of human philosophy and science. The only safety for the people is to look beyond such watchmen. Let them take the Bible for themselves, and there discerning the truth, embrace it, and live according to it.

CONCLUSION.

The impression prevails to some extent that he who teaches that Christ is soon coming is acting the _rôle_ of an alarmist. If so, we have seen that the great Teacher has placed himself at the head of the class. No one has spoken more positively upon this point than he has done. He said, “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 14:2, 3. There is nothing ambiguous about that language. A child can understand it. It means that Jesus will come again. In the remarkable chapter we have here reviewed, the Saviour takes up the subject specifically, and not only affirms the fact of his coming, but foretells in explicit language the events which he would have us recognize as signs of the near approach of his coming and the end of the world.

But the message of Christ’s second coming is not sensational in its essential character. It is a solemn, practical truth. It is full of warning and admonition to sinners and worldly professors, and full of comfort to the faithful followers of Christ. It is spoken of in the Scriptures as a fact, established upon the word which never fails. When speaking of his second advent, the Saviour said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35. To disbelieve in his coming would be to doubt one of the two great features of the gospel plan. What the harvest is to seed‐time, Christ’s second advent will be to his first. To doubt that he ever came to earth would be to subvert the gospel. To disbelieve his second coming would nullify in the mind his first coming, and rob the sacrifice of its glorious reward.

The apostle Paul speaks of the second advent as “that blessed hope.” Titus 2:13. Jesus says: “And when these things [the signs of his coming] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” The prophet Isaiah anticipates the feelings of God’s people who will witness the event, and expresses them in the following manner: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: This is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:9.

At his coming, the dead in Christ will be raised to everlasting life. The righteous living will be changed to immortality. The hand of our Saviour will wipe away all tears; “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”

Why should we not rejoice in such a prospect? Who would not welcome such a friend? Who would not rejoice in the prospect of such a consummation?

But it is true that the grand event will not be attended with joy alone. There will be dismay and anguish. For while one prophet records the exclamations of joyful anticipation, another has foreseen and recorded the cry of despair. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:15‐17. A vast number will thus lament. All who cannot join the shout of welcome will unite in the wail of despair. There will be but two classes in that day. And to one of those classes each one living will belong. To which shall I belong? Solemn question. To which party will you belong, reader? No one can _wait_ for Christ who is not prepared for his coming. Only the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses from sin can prepare us to receive him and fit us to dwell in his presence. Have you an interest in his forgiving love? Is your peace made with God? If so, his coming will have no terror to you, for he comes to save his waiting people.

CHOICE RELIGIOUS BOOKS.

Any publication in the following list will be sent post‐paid to any address in the United States and Canada. See directions on the last page.

*PROPHETIC LIGHTS* treats of some of the leading prophecies both of the Old and New Testaments, showing the exact fulfillment of the predictions of the Bible concerning Egypt, Tyre, Babylon, Medo‐Persia, Greece, and Rome, also of the prophecies concerning the first advent of Christ, which prove the inspiration of the Bible, and give assurance that other prophecies which are noted will as surely and exactly be fulfilled. Nearly all the illustrations of this book were designed and engraved especially for this work, at great expense, and are a study in themselves. The book contains nearly 200 large octavo pages, and is printed on an extra quality of heavy calendared paper. It is bound in fine English cloth, with beautiful symbolical side stamp in brown and gold, and has gilt edges. *$1.00*.

*MARVEL OF NATIONS*, embracing the past, present, and future of the UNITED STATES, from a historical, political, and religious standpoint; what great men have predicted; what the Scriptures have foretold. This book gives a brief but comprehensive historical review of our country, comparing the past with the present state of religion, education, and science, and calling special attention to the advancement that is being made by Spiritualism, Catholicism, and the National Reform movement, which is rapidly bringing about a union of Church and State in America. These questions are coming to the front; and he who prizes current thought on living issues should give them an examination. The book contains 300 pages, and over 40 illustrations; and has reached its 200th thousand. It needs no other indorsement than a careful reading.

In plain edges *$1.00* Gilt edges *1.25*

*FROM EDEN TO EDEN.*—This book is a most interesting study of the more important historic and prophetic portions of the Scriptures. The author traces the world in its career front the time when “God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good,” on through the period while “the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof,” to the future glorious time when Christ says to his followers, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” “FROM EDEN TO EDEN” is printed from new electrotype plates, on heavy calendared paper made especially for this book, and contains 264 pages. It is illustrated with numerous full‐page engravings, and furnished in two very attractive styles of binding, at the following prices:—

In a highly ornamental binding *$1.50* Plain binding, with marbled edges *1.00*

*GREAT CONTROVERSY* between Christ and Satan during the Christian Dispensation. A companion volume to “Patriarchs and Prophets.” By the same author. This volume presents the most wonderful and intensely interesting history that has ever been written of the great conflict between Christianity and the powers of darkness, as illustrated in the lives of Christian martyrs and reformers on the one hand, and wicked men and persecuting powers on the other. Beginning with our Lord’s great prophecy given while viewing Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, this book outlines the history of the whole dispensation down to the time when “sin and sinners are no more; God’s entire universe is clean: and the great controversy is forever ended.” This remarkable book contains over 700 pp., and 26 illustrations. The work is handsomely printed and bound.

Bound in five styles, varying in price from *$4.50 to 2.25*

*PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS*; or the Great Conflict between Good and Evil as illustrated in the Lives of Holy Men of Old. By Mrs. E. G. White, author of “Great Controversy,” “Life of Christ,” and numerous other works on religious subjects. This book treats upon the themes of Bible history—themes not in themselves new, but so presented here as to give them a new significance. Beginning with the rebellion in heaven, the author shows why sin was permitted, why Satan was not destroyed, and why man was tested; gives a thrilling description of man’s temptation and fall; and rehearses the plan of redemption devised for his salvation. This volume traces the great conflict between good and evil from its inception down through the centuries to the time of David’s death, and shows God’s wonderful love for mankind by his dealings with the “holy men of old.” The book contains over 760 octavo pages. It is printed from clear, new electrotypes on a fine quality of tinted paper. Its pages are adorned with more than 50 engravings, over 30 of which are full‐page, and many were designed and engraved especially for this book by an artist in Paris, France.

Furnished in four styles of binding, ranging from *$4.50 to 2.25* In plain binding, with 13 illustrations *1.75*

*HERE AND HEREAFTER*, or Man’s Nature and Destiny, The State of the Dead, the Reward of the Righteous, and the End of the Wicked. By U. Smith. A thorough canvass of the great question of a future existence, and the nature of man in the present life. Every text in the Bible which has any bearing upon these points, is taken up and carefully explained, thus giving the most comprehensive view of the subject that has yet been presented. The work contains 444 pages. In cloth covers *$1.00*

*CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.*—The most complete and comprehensive work on the subject of Christian Education that has ever been published. Starting from the period of infancy, it points out the most successful way of preparing the mind of the child for the work of succeeding years. The importance of proceeding upon Christian principles in the work of education, the nature and kind of studies which are best for children, and the moulding influences of home and associates, are dwelt upon in the most practical and explicit way. Many of the problems that perplex parents are cleared up in this book, and every one who has to deal with children should procure and study it.

256 pages nicely bound in cloth *50 cts.*

*STEPS TO CHRIST.*—This little work by Mrs. E. G. White presents in a simple and attractive manner the steps by which the sinner may be made complete in Christ. While the book is an excellent guide for inquirers and young converts, it also contains a wealth of counsel and encouragement for those who are laboring with the difficulties that beset a growing experience. 157 pages. In neat cloth binding *75. cts.*

*HELPS TO BIBLE STUDY.*—A series of Bible readings, simple and easy, designed as an aid to the personal study of the Scriptures, and adapted to the use of individuals or families; also a valuable assistant to Bible workers. The book contains about forty readings, prepared by practical Bible workers and teachers, and covering the most important subjects that pertain to the spiritual welfare of mankind at the present time. 125 pages.

In cloth binding *50 cts.* In paper covers *25 cts.*

*GOSPEL WORKERS* is a very interesting volume of 480 pages. It outlines the qualifications that should be possessed by ministers and all others who would win souls to Christ. It should be in the hands of all Christian workers. This book can be read and studied by all classes with edification and profit.

In plain substantial binding *$1.00*

*MINISTRATION OF ANGELS*, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. A work of great interest upon a subject seldom written upon, yet of great importance to the Christian. Bound in paper covers *20 cts.*

*FACTS FOR THE TIMES.*—Containing historical extracts, candid admissions from authors, ancient and modern, on the live questions of the present hour, political and religious. A book for these times. Revised to 1893. A compilation of facts that are astounding, by students of Biblical and historical research. 340 pages. In fine cloth covers *75 cts.*

*THE SAINTS’ INHERITANCE.*—The reader will here find a very interesting pamphlet of 82 pages showing that the future kingdom of Christ, with the family of the redeemed, will be in this earth, renewed, restored, and regenerated, according to numerous scriptures in the Old and New Testaments.

In paper covers *10 cts.*

*THE GOSPEL IN CREATION.*—A nicely illustrated work setting forth clearly and simply the relation between God’s work in creation and redemption. The signs of power and greatness that mark the handiwork of God in the visible universe are shown to be but indications of the unfailing strength with which he works in the lives of those who submit to his will. The confirmation of the truths of the gospel drawn from the study of the creation will make this book a valuable one to all who are watching with interest the attacks that are now made on the authority of the Bible.

In cloth covers *50 cts.*

*SACRED CHRONOLOGY.*—A new and revised edition of a little work published by the late Sylvester Bliss about forty years ago, giving the chronology from creation to the death of the apostle John. Also “The Peopling of the Earth; or, Historical Notes on the Tenth Chapter of Genesis.” By A. T. Jones. A valuable reference book. 298 pp. Cloth covers *$1.00*

*LIFE OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES.*—A series of eight pamphlets, under the general title of “Redemption,” portraying the first advent of Christ, his temptation, his miracles, his teachings, his sufferings, and his resurrection, and the teachings and labors of Peter and Paul. Here are 788 pages of most excellent reading.

In paper covers *90 cts.*

*SATAN’S FIRST LIE*; or Man in Death. A very fascinating poem of 36 pages by a well‐known poet of Michigan. The “Lie” referred to is the one mentioned in the third chapter of Genesis; and though, as the Scriptures tell, the devil is a liar and the father of it, none of his lies have wrought such disastrous consequences to the race as the one here pointed out. The reader will hardly fail of being alike interested in both the poetry and theology of this unique poem. In paper covers *15 cts.*

*THE CHRISTIAN’S SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE.*—By Hannah Whitall Smith. “To commend this work would seem almost superfluous; and yet to young Christians who may not know it, we cannot refrain from saying, Buy this book, and keep it with your Bible for constant study, until you have thoroughly mastered, in your experience, the secret of which it tells. It will transform the dark days of your life, as it has transformed those of thousands before you into days of heavenly light.”—_The Evangelist (N. Y.)._

In cloth covers *75 cts.*

*HIS GLORIOUS APPEARING.*—An exposition of Matthew XXIV. This is a verse‐ by‐verse explanation of the Redeemer’s great prophecy concerning the Gospel Dispensation and his second appearing in glory. 96 pages, with 20 full‐page illustrations.

In paper covers, *20 cts.* Board covers, *25 cts.* Cloth covers *40 cts.*

*THE CHARIOTS OF FIRE AND IRON*; or, The Modern Railroad System, treated in the light of sacred prophecy. A very interesting pamphlet of 168 pages. By D. T. Taylor, the well‐known author.

In paper covers *25 cts.*

*THE REJECTED ORDINANCE.*—A convincing argument to show that our Saviour’s remarkable act of humility recorded in the thirteenth chapter of John, should be literally perpetuated among Christians *10 cts.*

*SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.*—A careful compilation of proof‐texts on twenty‐ five different subjects of great importance at the present time. *4 cts.*

*SPIRITUALISM A SATANIC DELUSION.*—This is a scathing arraignment of the system of necromancy known under the name of “Modern Spiritualism.” *4 cts.*

*IS THE END NEAR?*—An 8‐page tract of great interest, giving numerous reasons for believing that the Second Coming of Christ is at hand. *1 ct.*

*CAN WE KNOW?*—A tract of 8 pages which proves most conclusively that the numerous predictions concerning the signs of the times and the second advent may be understood. *1 ct.*

*THE TWO LAWS.*—A clear and scriptural argument showing the difference between the Ten Commandments and the ceremonial law or the Hebrews. *2 cts.*

*THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.*—This tract dwells with great force on the agonies of our Redeemer in the garden and on the cross, in order to make the salvation of sinners possible. *4 cts.*

*THE SECOND ADVENT*, showing the nature of the Second Coming, and reasons for believing it near. *4 cts.*

*BIBLE CONVERSION.*—A tract of 16 pages which sets forth very clearly what it is to be born again, and that without a change of heart no one can be saved. *2 cts.*

[Transcriber’s Note: Obvious printer’s errors have been corrected.]