Part 14 (1/2)

The series began at the time specified, the signs came in the order given in Christ's prophecy. The record of history bears witness that the prophecy was fulfilled.

It may be that on a yet more awful and universal scale these phenomena will be seen again in that last shaking of the powers of heaven which is to attend the rolling back of the heavens as a scroll, the immediate prelude to Christ's glorious appearing. But Christ's prophecy, at this point, was not giving a description of events at the very end of the world, but signs by which it might be known when the end was drawing near.

As the signs should be recognized, the Saviour intended that those who loved His appearing should be quickened with hope, and inspired to hasten to the world with the gospel message preparing the way of the Lord. The Lord's word for His children was,

”When these things begin to come to pa.s.s, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28.

Long ago these signs began to come to pa.s.s. Now may the Lord's believing children well look up and rejoice, knowing that the day of eternal redemption is indeed nigh at hand.

He Will Come for His Own

In the glad time of the harvest, In the grand millennial year, When the King shall take His scepter, And to judge the world appear, Earth and sea shall yield their treasure, All shall stand before the throne; Just awards will then be given, When the King shall claim His own.

O the rapture of His people!

Long they've dwelt on earth's low sod, With their hearts e'er turning homeward, Rich in faith and love to G.o.d.

They will share the life immortal, They will know as they are known, They will pa.s.s the pearly portal, When the King shall claim His own.

Long they've toiled within the harvest, Sown the precious seed with tears; Soon they'll drop their heavy burdens In the glad millennial years; They will share the bliss of heaven, Nevermore to sigh or moan; Starry crowns will then be given, When the King shall claim His own.

We shall greet the loved and loving, Who have left us lonely here; Every heartache will be banished When the Saviour shall appear; Never grieved with sin or sorrow, Never weary or alone; O, we long for that glad morrow When the King shall claim His own!

--_L.D. Santee._

[Ill.u.s.tration: SATAN OFFERS GOLD, AND THE WORLD STAMPEDES TO ITS DESTRUCTION

”Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.” James 5:1.]

FOOTNOTES:

[D] The display was most brilliant, apparently, in Western Asia. The veteran missionary, Dr. H.H. Jessup, of the Presbyterian Missionary College, of Beirut, describes the scene in his ”Fifty-Three Years in Syria:” ”On the morning of the fourteenth [November], at three o'clock, I was roused from a deep sleep by the voice of one of the young men calling, 'The stars are all coming down.' ... The meteors poured down like a rain of fire. Many of them were large and varicolored, and left behind them a long train of fire. One immense green meteor came down over Lebanon, seeming as large as the moon, and exploded with a large noise, leaving a green pillar of light in its train. It was vain to attempt to count them, and the display continued until dawn, when their light was obscured by the king of day.... The Mohammedans gave the call to prayer from the minarets, and the common people were in terror.”--_Volume I, pp. 316, 317._

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MISER

”Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5:3.]

THE MEANING OF PRESENT-DAY CONDITIONS

”THERE SHALL BE SIGNS ... UPON THE EARTH”

From the specific signs in the heavens, which were to herald the coming of the latter days and awaken the church to look for its coming Lord, our Saviour's prophecy pa.s.sed on to designate certain general conditions in the world which were to continue until the great day of G.o.d comes:

”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. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27.

Among the developments here foretold, and which contribute to the ”distress of nations, with perplexity,” we may list the following:

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE ARMING OF THE NATIONS