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Date:         Thu, 12 Nov 1992 12:16:36 EDT
From:         Leo W <Leo_W@QM.CIRCA.UFL.EDU>
Subject:      SofT, July 1894

I recently acquired a set of the back issues of "Things to Come," a monthly
periodical edited in the very late 19th and early 20th centuries by E.W.
Bullinger.   During this time the Ottoman empire was still together, General
Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) was still in charge, Mary Baker Eddy's
movement was small in the U.S. and only beginning in England, Jews were
persecuted in so-called Christian nations, "Romanism" and "Popery" in England
were hot topics, etc.

One of the interesting regular articles is "Signs of the Times."  It documents
the early stages of the Zionist movement and the "downgrade" of the Christian
churches from various contemporary publications.  Every so often I will post an
interesting "sign" of the coming return of our Lord to earth, as seen through
the eyes of a Bible-believing pre-millenialist Englishman almost one century
ago.  July 1894 is the first issue of "Things to Come," so I will summarize.

"The 'signs' during the last few years have multiplied to an enormous extent.
Events can be recorded now which till quite recently had never been heard of or
contemplated."

Following this sentence are paragraphs on Jewish literature concerning
Palestine, Jewish societies which have as their object the colonization of
Palestine, Jewish colonies in Palestine, Jewish movements to colonize
Palestine, railways in Palestine, and related international events.

"The international work in connection with these Railways is remarkable.  An
interesting fact has come out in connection with the Jaffa-Jerusalem Railway:
Turkey gave the concession.  France found the capital.  Belgium furnished half
the rails and coal.  England found the other half.  Poland and Switzerland sent
engineers.  Italy and Austria provided engineers and labourers.  Egypt and the
Soudan and Algiers sent labourers.  Greece furnished the cooks.  The United
States shares with Germany the man who first surveyed the road, while
Philadephia supplied the engines!  The nations may yet unite in doing much more
important work in restoring the Jews to Palestine."

There are many examples of spiritual problems in the Christian and
not-so-Christian churches.  These are seen as "signs" of the coming
Anti-Christian religion.  I will present only those about Christendom which
either amuse me or convict me.  I will ignore the examples of Spiritism, Devil
worship, Theosophy, etc.

"On Whit-Sunday evening, May 13th, 1894, at the Congregational Church, St.
Thomas's Square, Hackney, Mrs. Annie Besant delivered a lecture before a
crowded audience on "The Brotherhood of Man: a Fact in Nature."  Mr. Belcher,
the minister, occupied the chair...." (Daily Chronicle, May 14th, 1894).

I must skip the interesting details and move to the editor's comments: "And has
it come to this, that a so-called Christian Denomination has admitted to one of
its pulpits a teacher who denies God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Ghost; who has spoken against the Holy One of God, and who, having done despite
unto the Spirit of grace, gets her inspiration from Mahatmas and Pantheistic
theosophy!  Congregationalism has long been on the downgrade road, but we were
not prepared for such an announcement as this.  Why is Congregationalism silent
after such an outrage as this?"

It's like living during past history reading this, and it helps give a
historical perspective to "signs" in our own day.  To be continued every now
and then.

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Leo
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