Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-11

caught up to meet Him in the air.
Seeing therefore it shall be so sudden
they must watch and be ready, at any
hour.
HISTORY AND PROPHECY.
Does this have any practical bearing
and see; let us examine briefly the signs
Of the times. Was there ever a time
when there were so many saying. l am
Christ, and deceiving many? Witness
the marvellous growth in latter years of
the various 'isms." They should not
disturb us; as the budding fig tree
points to summer, they give us assur-
ance that His coming is nigh. Just at
present there is peace between the ma
tions, but within the past few years,
America has fought with Spain, Japan
with China and Russia, England with
South Africa War clouds are on the
horizon. Germany and England are wait
ing for the other to knock the chip OF
the shoulder Japan resents the treat
ment of her subjects in California China
! bovcotts the United States. Russia would
like to slice China, as would also other
European nations Turkey has under
gone a revolution. A very little coulo
produce a war of widespread influence.
There is no famine just now; out we
, remember as yesterday the terrible tam-
have gotten to be so common we scarcely
notice them unless a whole city like Mes
sina. or an island, is destroyed Pest-
lences rage but we take no notice OF
them unless a victim in our own MONIES
Is claimed. Cholera has ragged in ltaly
for three months; bubonic plague Is al
most endemic in the east; pohornyeiills
started in Scandinavia three years ago,
swept northern Europe, and has played
Nd nrTh west
own land; tuberculosis claims It's VIZ
Tins by the thousands every year.
Iniouitv abounds. We think Atlanta Is
good city. and it is; and yet last year
il out of every Il of our citizens appeared
as a prisoner before our police cour I
Did you know it?
The love of many wakes colo- LooA II.
our churches, and see the proportion VI
members who attend regularly; there 5
scarcely church in this city thaI VIM
saat its membership if all attend. see
4ba smaller proportion that give to It's
snnnort. the stili smaller proportion that
give to it's larger work; the still snailer
0ronortion that give their time, talents
and energies to its life. r.
Tbis looks pesimistic; but it is not. II
is simply a plain statement OF the laClo
&c 1ve see them about US in the world To-
dav They are Just as Jesus Indicated IN
that Oliyet prophecy. Ihey are slShS "
His near approach; and therefore shouio
make us optimistic; they should MAKE uS
watch and be ready for His appearing.
There is one other which must De hoIeu
worldwide evangelization. UP to ABOUT
100 wears ago the church had entlrey
neglected the heather world. william
Carey. the cobbler, felt the burden, ana
led. countless others have folloWd- WlIh-
in two decades, the students, the young
neonle and the laymen have been success
sively aroused to their duty; and hnally
at Edinburgh last summer the Whole
Christian church united, through its rep
resentatives, in setting before the churcn
as its watchword, 1.-The evangehzatoh OF
the world in this generation" The gospei
is being preached in every land and prac-
tically in every language. There are mil
lions vet who have not heard the mes
sag. but the outpourings Of Gods spirit
as indicated by the marvellous revivals IN
China. Korea, India, Japan and Africa
give hope that the day is not far distant
when the gospel of the kingdom SHAH
have been preached as witness unto
all nations; and then shall the consum-
nation come.
Beloved these are the signs OF the
times. Watch, therefore. for ye know not
when your Lord cometh. Be not like the
one who shall be left, but the one caught
I'D Be We also ready, for in such an
hour as we think not the Son OF Man
cometh.