carried away by the "deceivableness of unrighteousness,' but may you receive the love of the truth," and be saved. 37

Modern Spiritualism a Sign of the Nearness of the Coming of Christ.

In several places in the Bible, Spiritualism is spoken of as a sign of the last days and of the second coming of Christ. The last and most wonderful development of this peculiar doctrine should immediately precede the coming of our Saviour. Matt. 24: 26 contains a warning from Jesus against those who say, "Behold, he is in the secret chambers." Then he speaks of the coming of the Son of man, and states that it will be sudden and visible to all like the lightning illuminating the heavens.

939

The apostle speaks of the brightness of the coming of Christ, 38 and then he states that his coming will be "after the workings of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." This shows plainly that the wonderful phenomena and signs by which Spiritualism deceives the people will be manifested a short time before the coming of the Lord.

The apostle speaks of the same work in 1 Tim. 4: 1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." We have already seen that the spirits with whom the Spiritualists hold communion are seducing spirits or demons, and this text states plainly that this work shall take place in the latter times.

The same work is also spoken of under the prophecy of the two-horned beast. The power of the beast or kingdom spoken of in this place will at last be so great that

37 2 Thess. 2: 10.

38

2 Thess. 2: 8.

39 Verse 9.

it will make

64

fire come down from heaven on the earth in

the sight of men.'

"40

When these spirits have carried on their work among men to the utmost and have gained full control over them, they will gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.""1

That this is done immediately before the revelation of Christ is seen clearly from the next verse: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

"42

Let us give heed to these solemn words that we may be found clothed and not naked in that great day of the Lord.

CHAPTER VI.

PERILOUS TIMES IN THE LAST DAYS.

HIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall

THIS

come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1

Here we see very plainly that the last days will bring perilous times and not golden days. The narrow way will not become broader toward the close of probation. We must not expect to see the great majority of men thronging the narrow way while the broad way is empty and deserted. The apostle enumerated eighteen sins which will be very prominent in the last days, while men at the same time try to keep up a form of godliness.

Selfishness and Covetousness.

It is not difficult to see that those signs mentioned by the apostle are more prominent in our days than ever before. Men become more and more lovers of their own selves. Every one thinks that he is nearest to himself. Love is the most excellent beauty of Christianity. Charity (love) does not seek her own. Love leads its possessor to live for others, even as the Son of man came not to be 2 I Cor. 13: 5.

1

2 Tim. 31-5.

ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his live a ransom for many.

13

To illustrate the fruit of selfishness the condition of London may be mentioned. Immense riches are gathered there, and yet no place with greater poverty can be found in the world. According to reliable statistics there were in London in the year 1890, 606,000 persons who suffered from poverty every day. Of these 51,000 were paupers, inmates of workhouses and asylums; 33,000, homeless loafers and criminals; 300,000, starving people, earning once in a while $4 a week, but as a general thing they do not earn enough to sustain the most miserable existence. Often they have to be without food for several days, and not a few die from starvation. Besides these there are 222,000 very poor people who do not have regular earnings."

How can this suffering be remedied?

In London are found sufficient means and wisdom to relieve it even if the distress were twice as great. If they would treat these poor people as well as they treat their horses, it would be a great help. If a horse falls in the street, he is helped upon his legs again, and as long as a horse lives, he is given shelter and food. But the charity of Christian London does not extend so far as that toward the poor. There is probably no country where the horses are treated and fed better than in Denmark. This is right and deserves commendation; but it would be still better to manifest the same or more care and kindness toward our poor fellow-men.

Covetcousness and selfishness go together. Money has never before played so prominent a part in the world. Most people try to gather to themselves as much as possible of the good things of this world. Very few act in harmony with the council of Christ: "Sell that ye have, and

3 Matt. 20: 28.

Booth's "Darkest England," p. 21.

give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."5 This world is soon to perish. Human banks and depositories are becoming more and more unreliable. Heaven is the safest bank. If earthly possessions perish and we cling to them, we are in danger of perishing with them.

Blessed is he who gives heed to the words of the apostle

"Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ? ” 6

Is it not evident that the condition of the Christian world is now just as the prophets many centuries ago described it?

"For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to coveteousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us." 8

Boasters, Proud, Blasphemers.

Boasting manifests itself in bragging and self-laudation. Men have never been so much given to exalt themselves and praise their own works as in the present generation. As an instance of this, just notice the innumerable multitudes of patent medicines advertised in the papers. Every one of these medicines cures many diseases, and some of them are recommended as a cure for every disease. They 6 James 2: 5.

5 Luke 12:33, 34.

7 Jer. 6: 13, 14.

8 Micah 3: II.