Smyrna times., 1892-09-28
REV. KEIGWINS VIEWS.
MORE ABOUT HIS IDEAS OF THE END
OF THE WORLD.

0i0Hu SeHClemdn gives Cne Bible as q
authority for for his statements and
sincere faith as warrant for givir
public vent to his convictions. A
though many people will regard b
views on this subject as purely specr
lative, every thinking reader mu
agree with him when he says that tt
churches have been constantly grow
ing farther and farther away from th
masses, and that the clergy are onl
beginning to realize that fact. To th
student of the Bible or of curren
events, there is much food for though
in the interview, while the genera
reader will find it very interesting
reading.
Il have a sincere motive to arous,
Christianity" said the reverend gen
tleman to a Sunday Star reporter few
days ago. my object is to arouse the
people to a realization that the second
coming of Christ is near at hand. Five
hundred years before the first coming
of Christ, the Jews had become skepti.
tical, but few among them. their
prophets, had been wiser than their
day and generation and they warned
the people of the coming of Christ.
The result was that when Christ came
the Jews were prepared for the coming
OF a Messiah, even they rejected their
rightful Saviour, Jesus Christ.
1T will be thus at Christ's second
coming. | expect that when | read
the dispatches in the newspapers in
forming US of Christ's arrival on earth.
probably three-fourths of the people
VIII not accept him as the Son of God
how are we to know when He has
come among US? According to the
Scriptures, the inner conscience will
inform the faithful.
I'm reference to my first interview
with the Sunday Star, MANY peonle
mlsconstrued my meaning. l did not
say that the world was coming to an
end in 1897. l did say and now re.it-
crate that the Jews will be restored to
their Holy Land in 1897, or not later
than 1899 and l do now say that when
the Jews have rebuilt their temple the
second coming of Christ will not ba
long delayed.
There is no reference to the Jews
and their wanderings in the Bible that
has not definite time attached. When
they went into Egypt, God predicted
mat they would be there 43O vears
giving certain dates. At the end of
nat time exactly, they marched ont
If Egypt, free people. When thew
we're in Babylonian captivity, it was
'rophesied that they would remain
hus in bondage for 20 years. At the
'nd OF that time, a heather king Cyrus,
ent them into freedom again, claim.
ng that he was servant of God. It
would be strange thing, in view of
hese facts, if during the later troubles
nd wanderings of Jews, there were
Ot a definite time fixed for their res.
Oration. As matter of fact that date
frequently stated in the ScriDtures
nd forthcoming events are grapl icallv
ictured in Ezekiel, from the thirty
xth to the fortieth chapters. Every
gn points to the restoration of the
ews to their land, and the impending
reach among the European nations
II the possession of the East Indies
Ill probably be the means of bringing
bout this restoration. S
Il believe that when the time comes
lere will be general exodus of Jews :
the Holy Land, where they will |
lickly formulate their own govern- t
ent and will build their temple. It $
well-knOwn fact that the Jews :
'-day control the wealth of the na- /
ons, and they shall reign in greater t
'lendOr than ever before.
Soon after their temple is built !,
nrlst's second coming will take place. o
should Judge that the event would be C
1t later than ten years after the COM p
elton OF the temple, although 1 say T
at hgure as merely a guess, as there 9
no evidence in the Scriptures when a
e event shall take place definitely. c,
i am firm believer in these things. u
ID promises them and He has hereto q,
re fulfilled all His promises. We d.
ust arrest this tide of skepticism in Ii
order to prepare the masses for the %
ming of Christ. But there is the 60
ief difficulty which we now have TO lie
I've and which is occupying nv al
oughts very much. The church is :,
doubtedly drifting away from the y. ~,
lsses. l am only one among hum of
eds OF ministers who realize that this Ri
'tement is only too true. .
There are two things which inter. on a.
e with the church reaching the
Isses. is
In the FIRST place the people are too pc
lsitive and will not receive as cbari. ~ r.,
the advances of the church. This le,
kes it hard for the church to an.
zach them. vo
In the second place, the church has "a, tni
'ome so extravagant in the erection re,
Us places of worship that the ex-
Use OF maintenance makes it neces- no
y to appeal to people of means for we
port. ",
my own idea is that churches ide
uid have endOwments so as to allow q
umosr OF free pews, or, at least, so M.
. ailow OF their rental at very low Ma
res The church should not have !
blame thrown upon it M.
apss these conditions have grown z
as IL now realizes that fact and Is left
ng to meet these conditions. con
Inc churches are beginning to pro- sta
other means of arousing interest adj
10 people in order that they might
10 Within the reach of Gods word.
y are providing libraries and read =
rooms, classes for secular learning in /
I