The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1918-11-23

Day afternoon, Apostle Willis +. JORDAN QWelt
upon the ominous signs all around us in the
world today pointing to the Second Coming of
Christ. The address in full, in all probability
will appear in Leaves of Healing at later date
He said in part:
The Bible tells us of many great world signs
which were and ushering in the Lords Sec
ond Coming. 1t is within your province and
mine to be able to observe these signs.
No great epochal event ever occurred or ever
will occur in the worlds history which was not
revealed to the servants of God through His
holy prophets. In Amos 3 Il we find these words !:
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He
In Revelation 3:22 we read:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches.
So it is possible for Gods true Church to know
the signs of the Lords Second Coming and to
know where we are on the stream of time. AS
some wise men we're enabled to observe the signs
portending the birth of Christ likewise those who
study to know Gods Word may recognize the
signs of His reappearing
Luke 2:25-32 is an historical account of a
revelation made to Simeon at the end of the Jew
ish dispensation that he should not see death till
he had seen the Lords Christ:
And behold, there a in Jerusalem,
same
just and devout, waiting for the consolation OF
Israel and the Holy Ghost upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost,
that he should not death before he had seen
the Lords Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and
when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do
for Him after the custom of the law,
Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed
God and said,
Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in
peace, according to Thy word:
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all
people;
light 10 Tighten the GentiIes, and the glory of
Thy people Israel
In the days OF Israei (I Chronicles 12:32) and
IN the days OF the Medo-Pers1an empire Esther
l:l3) there were wise men who understood the
times.
1t is made plain in the Word of God that Chris
tians not to be in darkness about the Lords
Coming; but to the apostasy He will come as a
thief in the night
| Thessalonans STA:
But of the times and the seasons brethren, We
have need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of
the Lord cometh thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape.
But ye, brethren, not in darkness, that that
day should overtake you thief
In reference to the Time of the End, we find
these words in Daniel 1910:
Many shall be purified, and made white and
tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly and none
of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand.
In Matthew lola it is shown that the hypo-
critics, the wicked and adulterous shall not be able
to discern the signs of the times:
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came and
tempting desired Him that He would shew them
sign from heaven
He answered and said unto them, When it is
evening ye 1t will be fair weather; for the sky
is red
And in the morning, 1t will be foul weather to-
day; for the sky is red and lowering. ye hypo-
critics! ye can discern the face of the sky but can
We not discern the signs of the times?
wicked and adulterous generation seeketh af-
ter sign; and there shall sign be given unto
it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas And He
left them and departed
The Sadducees were materialsts Their whole
thought to eat drink and be merry. Like
untold numbers OF their counterparts today thev
protessed to believe that when they died that
would be the end of their existence and that there
would be no resurrection and no Judgment
CYNICAL and wise in their own conceits, they
feared neither God nor man.
10 all such, no sign was or is given; but to
the humble servant of God who takes his Bible
and says, Lord, [ do not know ANYTHING. but
help me to understand the signs of the times
portending the Second Coming of Christ are to
be made manifest. The multitudes will rush on,
too busy with the things of the world to observe
them AS in the days of Noah, the world will be
given over to voluptuousness, eating and drink
ing, and an existence of gayety and pleasure
Matthew "a :37-3o-
Pnfo fh0 dow of Mo- eLo