The herald., 1894-12-20
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Premillennialists Again in Con-
vention Yesterday.
They Think We Are Ominously Near
Great Dispensation.
II Christianity IL Making Progress in
tho World DisbolIsm IL Max
ing Much More.

CUuIoI6uCo Whn IOEuAou III bho
Baptist church yesterday morning
Owing to the inclement weather, the
attendance was net as considerable as
was hoped by the promoters of this re-
ligious affair. In the forenoon the Rev.
H. A. Newell read his paper on the Soc
ond Advent Premillennisl. and he was
followed by the Rev. DR.. Frost OF San
Bernardino, who read the paper OF Mr..
Benjamin Douglass of Santa Barbara,
entitled, A King Shall Reign in Right
eousness. Mr.. Douglass being unable to
be present, owing 10 the death OF his
wife.
Basing himself upon the prophesy OF
Isaiah, that king was to come TO reign
in righteousness, he entered into very
learned theological dissertation. Tho
personal coming OF the king is to be
the astonishing evart OF the worlds
future. The time in which the
prophet places it is that OF the
end OF the present economy. When lie
comes He will find thelworld not only not
converted, but more hostile to Him and
His kingdom than at His first coming
He will overturn all the then existing
governments OF earth and assume the
sovereignty Himself. For sevon years
before hs return the despotic rule OF
the whole world will be in the hands OF
the Antichrst of the new testament.
There are two opinions as to the klrg
and His kingdom. Both cannot be
right. The one thstis now prevalent is
a modern one, the Whitbvan view,
which is practically that OF the Roman
Catholic church. The other view is
that which interprets the words Of ecript-
ure according to their plain, grammats
ical meaning, inasmuch as the Bible
speaks to man in the language OF man,
and therefore it concludes that no other
meaning is to be sought but that which
lies in the words themselves.
Mr.. Douglass opposes the WhitbyRn
view. citing numerous authorities, and
concludes his paper with u brief change
OF translations in ii texts OF the Bible
which show plainly to him that the
kingdom OF God does not come till Jesus
returns. These IL texts, he says, un-
Questionably, as with an index finger,
point to the coming OF King and the
setting up of His kingdom at that time
in the most glad and happy manner. If
the scriptures are competent to deter
mine for US when the kingdom shall
come, then these IL texts are sufficient.
Other papers were read. the Second Ad-
vent Personal by the Rev. Mr.. Harper,
the Anti Christ by Rev. DR.. Mabie and
Biblical Interpretation by Rev. DR..
unkins.
In the evening Rev. A. ]. Frost OF San
Bernsidino, who is unexpectedly called
away, read the first installment OF his
paper ON the Signs Of the Times Which
Call for Thanksgiving.
The Phsrisees and the Sadducees,
said the doctor, could not or would not
discern "the signs of the times" The
natural signs before Christ's birth and
the supernatural signs after his BIRTH
all failed to convince them that their
long looked for Messiah had indeed
come. They rejected their King and
their King rejected them, since they did
not discern the 'aigns OF the times"
Their own sacred scriptures had pointed
out the natural points, such as an exist
ing GENTLE, time of universal peace, a
time of corruption and unbelief which
would lead to the Messiah's rejection
hint derived from the 70
weeks OF Daniel, and q longing OF the
pious for the Messiah's advent. They
did not discern these signs and as con.
sequence their house WAS left unto them
desolate, and the guilt of the Savior's
blood has been upon them and their
children.
After the birth OF their Messiah the
Pharisees and Saddueees did not discern
the supernatural signs either. Yet their
own scriptures had plainly foretold
His supernatural birth. words, works,
life end death. In the midst OF all these
astonishing miracles and wonders they
would not or could rot believe.
We today are ominously near the end
Of another great dispensation, and yet
how few are aware of it. There are
abundant indications all about US which
call for profound gratitude. We are
to watch for these solemn
Indications OF our Lords approach. The
speaker then mentioned the names of q
aumber of cele ebrsted divines in this
and abroad who have at aome
lime or other Expressed their profound
thst the end of all things ia
Is hand. He would ask his hearers to
,onslder boms OF the signe OF our times
which call for praise and Thanksgiving
% God today.
There are the missionary signs of the
lines. The preaching OF this gospel
II the kingdom among sll nations" is an
ndloatlon that we are very near the
;lose OF the present dispensation. Lange
ays "the preaching of the gospel or
missionary efforts are the most comfort.
ng signs OF the coming of Christ" The
everend lecturer here devoted con-
idersble time TO showing the mission.
lry work accomplished ell over tho
world.
Referring to the religious signs OF tho
lines, he said that aome of US might
laye thought that because the world is
,eing evangelizcd go rapidly it is being
jhristisnized at the same ratio. We
hould not be deceived. Worldwide
and world wide corruption
N christendom are stalwart signs OF the
ast times. He did not mean that
}hristisnity is not making progress in
he world. But we muet bear in mind
hat diabolism is making still greater
Progress The church never had so
many home and foreign missionaries, |
md the devil novef had Ho many emis- |
aries.
it is fact that there are more u3con.
''oo PoOPIo ia tie "ol4o tOuhy tnhn !
here were 1890 years age. Ii is fact |
bat modern lnissions are 100 yesro old |
nd 100000 heathens have professed |
diversion during thst time, but it is
lso fact that there are 200, ,000, 900 |
lore hea:hens than than there wers /
on years ago. How long will it take to |
onvert the world at that rate? 1t is G |
sot that there are 400, 900 600 nominal
hristians in the world, and that there
ra more uncOnyertad neoDla i, tba