Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-13
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

offer a word Of comment on Matth' 81
1895: "Then n any man shall say
unto you. Lo here Is Christ, or there;
believe 1t not. For there shall arise
false Christs, and false prophets. and
shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, II 1t were possible they
shall deceive tina very elect. Behold
have told you before. Wherefore II they
shall say unto you, Behold he is In the
desert go not forth. Behold. he Is in
the secret chambers; believe It not"
This is part Of one OF the grandest
prophetic discourses ever recorded. IL
was uttered by our Savior on the Mount
OF olives, possibly as the setting sun
was bathing the magnificent structures
on the temple block, in q flood OF light.
our Lord had Just departed from the
sacred precincts. His public ministry
was ended. He had given the predic-
tion that the time would come when,
"There shall not be left here one stone
upon another. that shall not be thrown
down" His disciples had asked Him
privately for information as 10 when
"these things" were to- happen, and the
signs that were to precede thy COM
ing and the end Of the world" The
Savior, in enurnerating these signs told
them that the appearance OF false
chrlsts and false prophets was one of
them, and that some of these would
50 closely resemble the true Messiah and
true prophets as to deceive even the
elect. II that were possible
Commentators differ widely in their
opinions on this prophecy, At least
four different views have been advo-
Gated. One confines the entire discourse
TO the destruction OF the Temple and
the termination of the Jewlsh pollty.
According to Jewish teachings the
coming of the Messiah was TO be ac-
companled by resurrection OF the
changed and a new would exist for a
thousand years after which eternity
proper war to succeed. According
ly. when the Twelve asked the ques
ton as TO the time set for the destruc
ton Of the Temple and the signs of the
coming OF the Messiah, they asked
for information concerning the same
event. Another view holds that the
Lord discoursed first upon the destruc-
tion of the Temple and then upon His
second coming and that the two events
are separated by thousands OF years. A
third view substitutes the final judg-
ment for the second advent of Christ,
A. IL al 81,
in one. DIR. Hales adopts the last
mentioned He sees three questions in
the one; the first relating TO the de-
struction OF Jerusalem. the second to
the second advent, and the third to the
general judgment at the end OF the
world.
These different views can, however, be
easily reconciled. If we advert simply
TO the evident intent OF the inquiry Of
the Apostles, and trace the remark
able fulhllment of the predictions, even
in minute circumstances. as Bishop
Newton has done. we can scarcely fail
TO admit that thy coming" and the
end OF the world" are but different
expressions by which the same event is
designated. The evident purpose of that
inquiry Is; When shall the de-
struction Of the Temple take place,
and what shall be the signs of that final
calamity? The Lord answers those
two questions.
But prophecies very often have a
double application, They apply TO one
object or event. and then arc FULFILLED
again, and again. Especially can this
double application be found in predic-
lions relating TO similar events under
different and remote economies. Pro-
phesies on the restoration from Baby
bn on the setting UP OF the taber-
nacle OF David. and on his Kingdom
81 have been fulfilled Ia different dis
pensatlons. II this character OF pro-
phecy is kept In mind, there is no
difficulty IN reading the entire chap
ter, first as a prediction concerning III,
signs that preceded the destruction o.
the Temple and the end OF the Old dis,
pensation. and then as an equally tru
description OF the time preceding tn,
second advent ana the end OF tn,
age in which We live II history re,
peats itself prophecy must also re-
peats itself. prophecy must also re
the Prophet Joseph Mt Kirkland. Marcl
7 1871. seems to confirm the view tina
the prophecy has a double application
throughout.
Our Lord told His disciples TO ali
serve the following signs as indicatln
tho approaching end of the Tempt
and tho dispensatlon Of the world q
which II was tho center;
]. Tho appearance Of u number r
deceiyers When public troubles an
thickening people naturally catch q
ANYTHING that promises deliycrance,
2. Wars aud connections anon
The nations, When the Lord was Dor
there was universal peace IN the en-
pire; when lie was rejected, N
sword came upon tho nation. Thet
wore wars ana rumors ~ war cor
thpnlly
3. with wars come famine, pesti
ence. and earthquakes, These are br
the beginning OF sorrows.
4. Persecution and apostasy. an
decay in religion. These often z
hand in hand Tertullian observe
that the persecution ~ The Christian
was war against the very nam,
Though a man was yrtuous and tru
and loyal, II he WAS "A Christian. h
49,