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The Great Controversy 1888
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
.] “Watch ye
therefore,” [
Mark 13:35
.] are his words of admonition. They that heed
the warning shall not be left in darkness, that that day should overtake
them unawares. But to them that will not watch, “the day of the Lord
so cometh as a thief in the night.” [
1 Thessalonians 5:2-5
.]
The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than
were the Jews to receive the Saviour’s warning concerning Jerusalem.
Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly.
When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed
in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making; when religious
leaders are magnifying the world’s progress and enlightenment, and
the people are lulled in a false security,—then, as the midnight thief
steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction
come upon the careless and ungodly, “and they shall not escape.” [
1
Thessalonians 5:2-5
.]
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