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The Criers of Peace, December 2
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
.
The evil servant says in his heart, “My lord delayeth his coming.”
He does not say that Christ will not come. He does not scoff at the
idea of His second coming. But in his heart and by his actions and
words he declares that the Lord’s coming is delayed. He banishes from
the minds of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly.
His influence leads men to presumptuous, careless delay. They are
confirmed in their worldliness and stupor. Earthly passions, corrupt
thoughts, take possession of the mind. The evil servant eats and drinks
with the drunken, unites with the world in pleasure seeking. He smites
his fellow servants, accusing and condemning those who are faithful to
their Master....
The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers. They are
saying, “Peace and safety.” Like the priests and teachers before the fall
of Jerusalem, they look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and
glory. The signs of the times they interpret as foreshadowing this. But
what saith the Word of Inspiration? “Sudden destruction cometh upon
them.” ...
Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord. They laugh at
warnings. The proud boast is made, “All things continue as they were
from the beginning.” “Tomorrow shall be as this day and much more
abundant.”
2 Peter 3:4
;
Isaiah 56:12
. We will go deeper into pleasure
loving. But Christ says, “Behold, I come as a thief.”
Revelation 16:15
.
At the very time when the world is asking in scorn, “Where is the
promise of his coming?” the signs are fulfilling. While they cry, “Peace
and safety,” sudden destruction is coming. When the scorner, the rejecter
of truth, has become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the
various money-making lines is carried on without regard to principle;
when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his
Bible, Christ comes as a thief.
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