EGW
How many disasters are now taking place. These are admonitions to us that we are living in the last days. Daily we read of earthquakes; of the going down of many ships, with great loss of life; of destructive floods; and of the burning of immense buildings costing millions of dollars—buildings which men have pronounced fireproof, but which, when touched by the finger of God, are consumed. With a loud voice these things speak to us, saying, “The end of all things is at hand.” BTS June 1, 1902, par. 1
We are living in the closing period of this earth's history. What shall we do to awaken the people to a realization of their dangerous condition? Already the plagues of God are coming upon the world; yet many of those who for years have been expecting to behold Christ at His second appearing, are assuming an attitude of listless indifference to the daily events which show that His coming is drawing near. BTS June 1, 1902, par. 2
In the twenty-fourth of Matthew is recorded Christ's prophecy in regard to the signs that precede His second coming. After mentioning some of them, He says, “Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. ... But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” BTS June 1, 1902, par. 3
As the inhabitants of the antediluvian world “knew not” the time in which they were living, so the inhabitants of the world today know not, because they do not choose to know, that they are living in the last days. Christ has warned us to look for His second coming. He says, “Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ... Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” Everyone of us may well ask, “Does this scripture refer to me? Lord, is it I?” “Blessed is that servant,” Christ says, “whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” BTS June 1, 1902, par. 4
Every Christian is now to stand in his lot. This is no time to be careless. The judgments of God are in the world. They will surprise many. Vessels filled with passengers will suddenly go down, and all on board will perish. Some one may be saved to bear witness to the intemperance of those on board,—the drinking, the card-playing, the swearing, the wickedness of every description. We need to watch, the Lord says, lest, coming suddenly, He find us sleeping in dreamland, or engaged in worldly projects and foolish diversions. BTS June 1, 1902, par. 5
In these perilous times we should leave untried no means of warning the people. We should be deeply interested in every thing that will stay the tide of iniquity. Work on. Have faith in God. Christ has said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” This is the power that He longs to bestow upon all. He declares that those who seek Him with all the heart shall find Him. BTS June 1, 1902, par. 6