Last Day events: Signs of Christs Soon Return Our Lords Great Prophecy Christ forewarned His disciples of the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs to take place prior to the coming of the Son of man. The whole of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew is a prophecy concerning the events to precede this event, and the destruction of Jerusalem is used to typify the last great destruction of the world by fire.--Ms 77, 1899. Christ upon the Mount of Olives rehearsed the fearful judgments that were to precede His second coming: Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: . . . Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows [Matthew 24:6-8]. While these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application in the last days.--5T 753 (1899). Signs in the Heavens At the close of the great papal persecution, Christ declared, the sun should be darkened, and the moon should not give her light. Next, the stars should fall from heaven. And He says, Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that He is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:32, 33, margin). Christ has given signs of His coming. He declares that we may know when He is near, even at the doors. He says of those who see these signs, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. These signs have appeared. [SEE THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, PP. 306-308, 333, 334.] Now we know of a surety that the Lords coming is at hand.--DA 632 (1898). Signs on the Earth Jesus declares: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations (Luke 21:25; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-26; Revelation 6:12-17). Those who behold these harbingers of His coming are to know that it is near, even at the doors (Matthew 24:33).--GC 37, 38 (1911). The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. Mens hearts are failing them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth. But those who believe in God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, It is I; be not afraid.--ST Oct. 9, 1901. Strange and eventful history is being recorded in the books of heaven--events which it was declared should shortly precede the great day of God. Everything in the world is in an unsettled state.--3MR 313 (1908). False Prophets As one of the signs of Jerusalems destruction, Christ had said, Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many [Matthew 24:11]. False prophets did rise, deceiving the people and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is given as a sign of the second advent.--DA 631 (1898). We shall encounter false claims, false prophets will arise, there will be false dreams and false visions, but preach the Word; be not drawn away from the voice of God in His Word.--2SM 49 (1894). I have been shown many who will claim to be especially taught of God, and will attempt to lead others, and from mistaken ideas of duty they will undertake a work that God has never laid upon them. Confusion will be the result. Let everyone seek God most earnestly for himself that he may individually understand His will.--2SM 72 (1893). An Experience With a False Prophet Last night a young man, a stranger to us all, but professing to be a brother from Victoria [Australia], called upon us and asked to see Sister White. It was evening and I declined seeing him. We invited him to remain with us during the night, however, and to take breakfast. After our usual morning worship, as we were about to go to our various employments, this young man arose and with a commanding gesture requested us to sit down. He said, Have you any hymnbooks? We will sing a hymn, then I have a message to give you. I said, If you have a message, give it without delay, for we are very much pressed to get off the American mail and have no time to lose. He then began to read something he had written, which stated among other things that the judgment has now begun upon the living. . . . I listened as he went on and finally said, My brother, you are not exactly in your right mind. State plainly how your message concerns us. Please let us know at once. Your mind is overstrained, you misapprehend your work. Much that you have said is in accordance with the Bible, and we believe every word of that. But you are overexcited. Please state what you have for us. Well, he said that we must pack up and move at once to Battle Creek. I asked his reasons, and he responded, To give this message that the judgment has begun upon the living. I answered him, The work which the Lord has given us to do is not yet finished. When our work here is completed we are sure the Lord will let us know that it is time for us to move to Battle Creek, instead of teaching you our duty. . . . I left him for Brother Starr to talk with further while I resumed my writing. He told Brother Starr that when Sister White spoke to him so kindly, and yet with such authority, he began to see that he had made a mistake, that the impressions which had moved him so strongly were not consistent or reasonable. Although our family is large, consisting of ten members, besides three visitors, we decided to have this young man stay with us for a time. We dare not have him go with people who will treat him harshly and condemn him, neither do we want him to repeat his revelations. We will have him remain for a little time where we can associate with him and if possible lead him in safe, sure paths.--Letter 66, 1894.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 07:05:44 +0000