Some Things to Remember
443
The End Is Near
The return of Christ to our world will not be long delayed. Let this
be the keynote of every message.
The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from
the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by
sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks
to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the
near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the
true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four
winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but
when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a
scene of strife as no pen can picture.
Could the curtain be rolled back, could you discern the purposes
of God and the judgments that are about to fall upon a doomed world,
could you see your own attitude, you would fear and tremble for your
own souls and for the souls of your fellow men. Earnest prayers
of heart-rending anguish would go up to heaven. You would weep
between the porch and the altar, confessing your spiritual blindness
and backsliding
[344]
The Danger of Thinking Christ’s Coming Is Delayed
That evil servant who said in his heart, “My Lord delayeth His
coming,” professed to be waiting for Christ. He was a “servant,”
outwardly devoted to the service of God while at heart he had yielded
to Satan.
He does not, like the scoffer, openly deny the truth, but reveals in
his life the sentiment of the heart—that the Lord’s coming is delayed.
Presumption renders him careless of eternal interests. He accepts the
world’s maxims and conforms to its customs and practices. Selfishness,
worldly pride, and ambitions predominate. Fearing that his brethren
may stand higher than himself, he begins to disparage their efforts and
impugn their motives. Thus he smites his fellow servants.
As he alienates himself from the people of God he unites more
and more with the ungodly. He is found eating and drinking “with
the drunken”—joining with worldlings and partaking of their spirit.
611
Testimonies for the Church 6:406, 408