The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-02-09
WHITTIER DRIFTING?
ARE WE IN THE CLOSING DAYS OF
THE GENTLE AGE?

AXE WE IN The CLOSING DAYS OF
THE GENTLE AOE7
Evangelist w. p. Fife Convinced That
The Rapture of the Church Is Likely
to Take Place at Any noment-The
Second Coming of Christ and Signs
That Point Thereto.
Correspondence of Charlotte Observer. }
| notice in your editorial of JAN
18th, ''Growing Scepticism as to I'M
mortality" you use these words:
"For some time past the New York
San has held that there is at this
time remarkable departure from the
old landmarks in religion. This is
being evidenced not only by scepti-
cism and intidelity of the world at
large, but also by decline of faith
in the most orthodox branches of the
Church itself. In this discussion of
immortality the papers find added
evidence of its oft repeated convic
ton" The Observer well says the
Sun argues convincingly, and its
conclusion is a matter for serious
consideration. l agree with you
fully when you say this is a matter
look at our Bibles and see whether
we cannot find why this is the case.
Are we not in the days that must
precede the second coming Of the
Lord Jesus Christ? l have had the
privilege of hearing great many of
the leading Bible teachers of Europe
and this country for the past four
years, and every one declared, ac
cording to what they can understand
from the Word, that we are in the
closing days of the Gentle age, and
that the rapture" of the Church is
likely to take place at any moment.
Let us see what St. Paul says in re-
gard to the days that must precede
1.-The coming of the Lord" II Thes.
2:1-3: ''Now we beseechyou. brethren.
by the coming OF our Lord Jesus, and
by our gathering together unto Him,
for that day shall not come unless
there be a falling away first" Is the
world to be converted in this age?
No. Acts. 15:16-17: "He is calling
out from among the Gentiles peo-
pie for His name After this he
will return and build the tabernacle
of David, which was fallen down,
that the residue of men might seek
after the Lord, and all the Gentiles,
upon whom my name is called" The
apostle also says in Tim. 4:12: "Now
the spirit speakest expressly that in
the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seduc
| ing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
speaking lies IN hypocrisy; having
their conscience scared as with a hot
iron" St. Paul continues in II Tim.
| 3:1-5: '''This know also, in the last
days perilous times shall come when
men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boosters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, traitors, heady,
high-minded, lovers of pleasure more
than lovers of God, having the form
of godliness, but denying the power
thereof; from such turn away" and
18th verse But evil men and seducers
| shall wax worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived" II Tim. 4:2-5:
His Command to Trinity, s'Preach the
Word, be instant in season. out Of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
all long suffering and doctrine, for
the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching
ears; and they shall turn away their
ears from the truth, and shall be turn
ed unto fables; but watch thou in all
things, endure Affections. do the work
of an evangelist. make full proof Of thy
ministry" St. Peter says in III Peter,
1:16: "For we have not followed cum
ningly devised fables, when we made
known unto you the power and COM
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ" 2:1-I3:
''But there were false prophets also
among the people. even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who
privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon them
swift destruction, and many shall
follow their pernicious ways; by rea-
son of whom the way of truth shall
be evil-spoken of, and through covet-
BUSINESS shall they with feigned words
make merchandise of you; whose
| Judgment now of long time linger-
eth not, and their damnation slum-
bereth not"
desire to ask a question: Are we
not in the days OF apostacy?" Are
! we not in the days of peril? Are we
not in days of turmoil, strife, con-
fusion, not in this country alone but
all over the world? Are we not in
days when men are departing from
the faith once for all delivered to the
saints: II 900, 900 adherents of spirit
ualism in the world to-day with
thousands that believe in Christian
Science, and hypnotism and other
forms of demonology: thousands that
deny the divinity of Christ? Whittier
are we drifting? Christ Himself says
in Luke, 1873: Nevertheless, when
faith on the earth?" Do we believe
God is able to save our souls9 Do
we believe He is able to save from the
power and dominion of sin? Do we
believe He is able to save our bodies
from sickness in answer to PRAYER OF
faith? Jas. 5:l4-15, with Isa. 53:4-5,
margin of new version, with Matt
SIG: Do we believe in the Literal
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
| Thes. 4:16-17-1s: For the LORD
himself shall descend from heaven
: with a shout, with the voice of ar
archangel and with the trump o
!, God; and the dead in Christ shall ris'
: first. Then we which are alive ant
remain shall be caught up togethe
with them in the clouds to meet th'
Lord in the air, and so shall we eve
be with the Lord; wherefore comfor
one another with these words"
this a comforting doctrine to professe'
Christians to-dav2
!: | have no doubt l will have som
2 friends that will be sorry that wrot
| ,.l1 l,s,t 1,i-u to rand Sl