Smyrna times., 1892-09-07
THE END OF THE AGE.
CLEAR DISTINCTION MADE BY THE
REV. A. N. KEIGWIN.

ing widespread comment, has explained
ms views in the following letter to the
Morning NeWS
SO much interest has been awakened
by the articles published in the Sunday
star and the Philadelphia Press emit.
Uled The End of the World" that !
am glad of the opportunity offered by
the Morning NelOs to use its columns
for further statement.
The prediction of Miller that the
Judgment day would occur in 1874
caused great excitement throughout
the whole Christian world. This gen.
Grafton has nOtoutlived the impressions
made at that time. Therefore, whiletbe
prediction failed, there is now an
almost universal, though latent. belief
that Miller was mistaken only in the
time, and that the great catastropbv of
a burning world is imminent.
In my lectures on the "Revelation -
last winter l repeatedly pointed out
the mistake Of almost every writer
upon the subject, in confounding two
distinct events: "The end of the agen
and the end Of the world" | wish
to emphasize this distinction in this
article.
In the Old and New Testaments
both are spoken Of frequently, some
times in such way as to puzzle the
closest student, and even to lead some
to think that the prophets themselves
considered them identical.
The end of the world is clearly nre.
dicted in Second Peter, 9. 10; "'Tbe
day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night; in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat.
the works that are therein shall be
burned up" But there are prophecies
In both the Old and the New Testa-
ments which are to be fulfilled before
that great cOnflagration, notably fbat
concerning the restoration of the two
Kingdoms. Judah and Israel. to their
own land. These untulflled prophecies
are spoken OF as occurring lin the last
days" and at the lend of the age: :" so
that the student of the Bible can
easily see that thousands of years NAV
intervene between the two great
events.
1t is the end of this age that | con-
slider imminent. | have not fixed the
time for it, and no one can do 80. But
there are time prophecies in Daniel
and Revelation that refer to coming
events in history that will precede the
new era, which it is perfectly leg
ltlmate for any one to consider
There are the Time, times and
half time" of both Daniel and Revela.
which specify period of 1860, and no
one ought to be afraid to attempt to
locate the events.
! object to the use Of the Bible in a
fragmentary way and therefore have |
undertaken the exposition of the Book |
OF Revelation in a consecutive order |
| find it to be book that is easily nm |
derstood, so far as past history is con-
cerneh. In the remaining portion of |
tne lectures which | will begin on the
hrst Sunday in October, | will under
take to point out the probabilities of
the future. That is all that anv one
can do. But we are so involved at
present in the controversies that must
eventually produce the events that are
predicted that it does not appear to be
a difficult task
The Eastern Question" is an old
issue in European politics, and states
men are giving their prognostication
it, surely the pulpit with
the sure word of prophecy" before
them ought to be able to discuss it in
telligently.
Twenty years ago before the present
complications of European nations.
the writer marked on the man
the very course of the Nerve railroad
with Herat as the objective point for
one division of the Russian armies.
while Teheran in Persia, so interesting
now to all Wilmingtonians because Of
lhe honor conferred on our citv bv the
of the editor of the Norm.
.ng NeiOs as the minister and consul
general TO That city, was marked as
me point d'appui of another division.
and ConstantinOple as the third. These
points were selected after study of the
zxxViiith and xxxixth chapters of Eze-
Ilel, and if am not mistaken Mr..
Sperry will, before his time expires.
nave something to do in a very practi-
'al way with the Eastern question and
he tultillment Ofthe prophecy. For we
cad, Eek. $50, that when Cog and
Magog, the chief prince of Meshecb
md Tubal (Russia) descends upon
he Holy Land, that Persia will be
With them.
There is evidently time of trouble {
PREDICTED by the prophets. War, fam i.
ne, pestilence and dreadful disaster.
lot only to Russia, but other nations:
roubles that the strong imagery of
he Bible indicates by earthuuakes. !
torms, and removing of islands ard \
mountains, Revelation xvi, 1921.
which is to close up this so-called Chris Z
ian era of hlood-shed, envy and ha-
red, and usher in a real Christian era
+ peace and blessedness. That we are
within decade that will complete the
rst 6OOO'years of human history is
veil known. T
That the Eastern question must he /
ettled before the close of this decade I
II who study current events believe !
ignor Crispi in the North America I
tepleW for July says; mo one can S
etermine the day when war will J
reak out. There is, however, every n
that it is inevitable and / t,
o not, in looking around, see a single V
OVernment in Europe strong enough T
} prevent it,"
In the study of the prophecy / have P
cen led to the same conclusion. be- '
eve the end of the age is near, to be J
reduced by that which will seem to v
by natural causes, but which will p
o less be the hand of God possibly +
ooompanled by destructive earth c
uakes, pestilenoes and convulsions of S
ature, but not resulting in the des. T
'uctiOn of the world. And after that tC
le great miracle of all miracles, the v
of the righteous dead. P
A. N. KEIGwIN. r
-s ~ f---