The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-22
Full OF PORIED1
MT. Pelee Disaster as Vl19}et by
Seventh Day Adventists.
SIGN OF THE APPROACHING END
These Are "The Last Days. and
Warnings Increase in FIRE.
Quency and Power.

Mont Pelees outburst and the awful
loss of life that followed is full of portent
to the entire human race in the view of
the Seventh Day Adventists. 1t is one of
the great signs spoken OF In the oath
chapter of Matthew and in the 21st chap
ter of Luke-"famines and pestilenees
and earthquakes''-foll the darken-
ing of the sun which occurred May 10, 1880,
and the falling of the stars in the great
meteoric shower of Nov. Is, 1888.
The Seventh Day Adventist firmly be-
lieves that the worlds history from spe-
| Gifted dates, the rise and fall of en-
pfres and the chronological succession of
events down to the setting up of Gods
everlasting kingdom are outlined in nu
mereus great chains of prophecy, and that
| these prophecies are now fulfilled except
| that in 1874 bgan the "investigative judg-
ment" of the dead, to be followed imme-
diately by the Judgment of the living and
then the end The increa singly frequent
and frightful catastrophes they believe
are intended to turn mems minds from the
trivial affairs of a life which can be
measured by a span to the mighty affairs
of life without end.
When Is Not Predicted.
eve do not pref end to say when the
end shall come said Rev. Messrs. F. A..
Detamore of this city and A. W. Kuehl of
Wlnona, who were found at the offices
Of the Adventist Tract society this morn
Ing. I'VE are certain, however, that we
are living in the days Of the investiga-
tive Judgment, 'the>last days In answer
to the objection that may be offered that
such catastrophes have occurred before
and yet the world has gone on, we can
point to a difference that Is vital The
catastrophes are following one upon an
other with increasing frequency and aw-
fulness. Further, they have followed
other events specifically mentioned by
Christ himself, such as the darkening of
the sun and the falling of the stars.
Again, in addition to the vast physical
disturbances, there is the social and po-
lttical disintegration that is going on. The
heart of man is becoming more wicked,
standards of morals are being lowered and
the sense of Justice Is being lost"
49, Inquiring Into Prophecy.
In defense of their position both min
listers cited numerous passages of scrip
ture which they regarded as Individually
referring to present conditions. The
special study of the meaning of recent
disasters, they said, had been forced upon
them by frequent appeals from persons
coming to their church for light. 1t was
q great part of the work of the Seventh
the meaning of the prophecies of the
Bible to learn all they could of the trend
of events SO that men might not go un-
warned. ~.--
Their inquiries led them to predict no
set date for. the end, but compelled the
belief that the approach of the end is
rapid, now that the period of. the first
judgment had been reached.
"A prominent member Of the Advent
lists church is quoted in a New York pa
per as having said that these recent dis
asters have followed close upon the an
nouncement of the third angels" mes
sage, which was delivered in 1874 and was
to the effect that if any man worshipped
the beast and his image and received his
mark in his forehead or in his hand, the
same should be tormented with fire, the
beast and the image referring to false
systems of worship and doctrine. The
Adventists say that it was the FIRST
angels message that was delivered in
1874, this was the angel of the gospel
saying: Fear God and give glory to
Him; for the hour of his Judgment is
come It is on the last words that the
Adventists base their belief that the in
vestigative judgment is now in progress
and that the end Of time cannot be far in
the future.