St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1920-05-22
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

(By J. E. Blackwell, Folsom, La-)
In the midst of these the most
momentous events Of the estlre MIS-
tory of the human race, few indeed
among those who pose as teachers
of the Christian or Hebrew sacred
book make any attempt at interpret
ing these ominous signs.
For ages these has appeared from
time to time among men many signs
that to the careful observer indicat-
ed the change of dispensation I'M
pending. This class OF useful men
as rule have been grossly misunder-
stood by the vast majority OF their
| felolwmen who, on account of having
been overcharged with the cares OF
this life were unable to read the
signs.
To illustrate, we remind readers
| Of the account in our sacred DOCK
respecting the Great King OF Baby
| lon. BelshazZar. We know that Baby
| lon was the first universal of Europe
and at about the time Of this ac-
count she had arose to the zenith OF
| her power, exceedingly prosperous IN
material good things. During these
palmy days the great king with ten
thousands of his lords, etc, proceed
to celebrate in royal style and in the
midst of this infamous affair there
appears the mysterious handwriting
upon the wall. All were dumbfound-
| ed. None could decipher this mys-
| ferrous inscription. AS last resort
the beloved Daniel was sent for, ne
| having been previously we'll known
to the king as servant OF Jehovah.
He announced the sad message to
the king and his assembled guests,
| who doubtless were composed OF
| legislators, judges, and other proml-
nets in Babylonian affairs. 1t re-
| auired what comparatively few OF
| Jehavah's servants today possess,
and that is courage and very strong
conviction to tell this great autocrat
| of hiss time of the downfall of his
government and why.
We have by no means mentioned
all the interesting facts relating to
this one account Of ancient history,
but we hope this will suffice to call
attention to the fact that it may be
who deeply and sincerely reverence
God, and we venture that it is not
unreasonable to suppose that these
alone can properly interpret all these
perpIexing and too many distressing
signs Of our great day.
We are told that history repeats
itself
We are not alone in believing that
we have come to the same critical
stage in the history Of the worlds
affairs today. We have reached the
| parting of the ways; but be it re-
membered it was shown this great
man of God, DanieD that the fifth
| universal empire to be established
among men is to be the long promls-
ed and prayed for Kingdom of God.
/ dan 2:44). Those among us who
| vet believe in the wonderful records
Of the Bible, may, with profit to our
Il selves, turn to this greatest of all
records and investigate anew and for
ourselves these wonderful doings
and sayings recorded therein.
Never, from our observation, was
there a more appropriate time tof
more reverential study Of Gods word
than now, especially by those who
profess to be teachers and followers
of the great teacher and exemplar
sent from God, even Jesus
Today, as in other ages, men are
lovers Of pleasure more than OF COD,
therefore there has and is coming
very serious and critical condition
of affairs which will ultimately re-
suit in the complete change of the
present order of things duke FL, "a,
25, 26, 81, 80, 33).
We are by no means pessimist
for we look forward to Gods cove
nant wit hAbraham which remains
to be fulfilled, to the grandest age
that man has ever known, and to
our understanding, that great day Is
upon us.
We could furnish many scripture
citations and reasons for our CON-
victions along these lines, but it is
impossible for those who never 6 We
; this subject proper consideration to
fathom these wonderful signs of our
time, namely, unrest among all class
es and conditions of men.
| In conclusion we wish to empha-
SIZE that those among us who yet
have faith in the Bible to go there
for the proper solution of these prob
lens of our day.