The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-02-01

Lll8 DlSllS VI thO
We are we'll aware that the Jews
we're blind and refused to accept the
signs and prophecies fulfilled at
Ch-ist's advent, but is not the CHRIS
dan world at large to-day, equally as
blind to all the signs OF the Masters
coming7 In few brief papers 1t IS
impossible to refer to all the signs OF
the near advent of our LORD, but
there are three lines of prophecy
which will invite our attention.
1.-THE PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE
| CHURCH.
1t is often stated that the outlook
for the future of the Christian chnrch
is Just bright as the promises OF uo''
which is true, but unfortunately the
Scripture neither offers nor gives us
A very roseate view of the latter day
church, for the Holy Ghost leaves Us
in but little doubt p % It's cordItloh
during the closing period Of this dis
nensation. And Paul writing OF the
signs of the Lords coming. Z Ines
2:3S says, "that that day shall not
come, except there come a falling
AWAY first, and the man Of sin be
revealed" also "that the mystery OF
iniouity doth already work"-lhe
cousumation of this iniquity being
the man of SIN" Well may we
inquire, what is this mystery of mi
+ onltv or of lawlessness of which Paul
warned us, and where does ii work
We look around us in the void, we
> see wickedness- lawlessness, but
there is no mystery" connected Will
1.-THE violations Of the law are opel
e and without concealment. Inc
). mystery" however of this lnlqulty o
which we speak is, that it IS not III O.
of the world, but in the church, an'
/. that is the last place where we woul'
= expect to find it, or acknowledge 1t tt
}. be. SO our blessed Lord in Matt. l.
giyes rs forecast of this "mySter
], of lawlessness working IN tn
l. church. In series Of parallels h
l. tells us of the mixing Of the evil wit
the good, with ever increasing poWe
= of the evil period. What was the lea'
10 en- which the woman hid IN the tire
a measures of meal till all VIZ
W. leayened? Certainly it was not
d symbol of purity which should wol
y until all the meal had become MOI
pure; not so, for leaven is always
- the scripture figure Of corrnptlo
G. whether in doctrine or Affection ;
m the leaven was hid in the Gosp
O." q" meal-the church-until all shou
be leavened. What were the TO"
r. of the air, but the same figures
&c corrupting elements which built the
~, hu nests in. and, defiled the branches
&c the tree sprung up from the Cos
seed? Where were the bad tis]
II. Nowhere so plentiful as enclosed
pr Gospel net with the good. What
tic the tares sown amongst the goo
on wheat and springing up choking SOL
and hinderlng the growth of the re'
- And so further the Spirit pictures
to us that in the last days perllo
times shall come. Men shall
ed lovers of themselves, coveto
on boosters, proud, false accnsers,
,he spisers of them that are good, low
ly. of pleasure more than lovers of G(
the having form of goodness, but del
of ing the power thereof, 3 Tim 81
Of whom was such an indictm'
ak made? OF the Scribes or Pharise
he OF the world? Nay, dear reader,
Je- o. the plofessed followers OF Christ
he the church during the last days. A
o. again in Tim Al The spirit spe
'wn eth expressly that IN the latter tin
red some shall depart from the fait
be- etc, and this reference is also to
church. Our beloved Lord hins
was in that parable as recorded in IL
DIS 19:11-27 gives us prophetic glim
ing of the future clear d~wn to the {
it of the age and even to the end of
red time, and is illustrative of the t
3D." condition of the church, and it {
Dor shows us, that not alone is en-
in profession to abound, but also tina
at expressly states that a message of
of tired wss sent after the departed Ii
of Everywhere in Scripture does