“Those who were so fortunate as to witness the exhibition of
shooting stars on the morning of Nov. 13, 1833, probably saw the
greatest display of celestial fire‐works that has ever been since
the creation of the world, or at least within the annals covered
by the pages of history.
“In nearly all places the meteors began to attract notice by their
unusual frequency as early as eleven o’clock, and increased in
numbers and splendor until about four o’clock, from which time
they gradually declined, but were visible until lost in the light
of day. The meteors did not fly at random over all parts of the
sky, but appeared to emanate from a point in the constellation
Leo, near a star called Gamma Leonis, in the bend of the
Sickle....
“The extent of the shower of 1833 was such as to cover no
inconsiderable part of the earth’s surface, from the middle of the
Atlantic on the east to the Pacific on the west; and from the
northern coast of South America to undefined regions among the
British possessions on the north, the exhibition was visible, and
everywhere presented nearly the same appearance. This is no longer
to be regarded as a terrestrial but a celestial phenomenon, and
shooting stars are now to be no more viewed as casual productions
of the upper regions of the atmosphere, but as _visitants from
other worlds_, or from the planetary voids.”—_Prof. Olmstead, of
Yale College._
“No philosopher or scholar has told or recorded an event, I
suppose, like that of yesterday morning. A prophet 1800 years ago
foretold it exactly, if we will be at the trouble of understanding
stars falling to mean falling stars; or ‘_hoi asteres tou ouranou
epesan eis teen geen_,’ in the only sense in which it is possible
to be literally true.”—_Henry Dana Ward, in Journal of Commerce,
Nov. 14, 1833._
Not only here in Matthew 24 is attention directed to these signs as
premonitory of the coming of Christ. The Lord through the prophet Joel
says:—
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood,
before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.”
Under the sixth seal, as given in Rev. 6:12‐17, we have the following
language:—
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of
hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell
unto the earth even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when
she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a
scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places.”
That the fourth and fifth seals apply to the papal persecution there can
be no reasonable doubt. If so, then the great earthquake with which the
sixth seal opens would be that of Lisbon, in 1755, which agitated the
greater part of the earth and destroyed many thousands of lives, 60,000 in
Lisbon alone.
The darkening of the sun and moon follows in 1780, and the falling of the
stars in 1833. Consequently the next event which we are to expect under
this seal is the departing of the heavens as a scroll. This being future,
we may say that we are living between the thirteenth and fourteenth verses
of Revelation 6.
In the gospel as written by Luke, however, we have at this point some
additional specifications given, which are of such interest at the present
juncture. And they rightfully belong to this exposition, since both
Matthew and Luke are giving versions of the same discourse. The passage
from Luke to which reference is made is the following:—
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the
stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;
the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear,
and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:
for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25‐27.
[Illustration]
Modern Cyclone.
The signs in the sun, moon, and stars are here spoken of less specifically
than by Matthew, while other features of the times, which Matthew does not
notice, are introduced between those signs and the shaking of the powers
of heaven. These are of peculiar interest to us because we are living in
the very days when the things that Luke speaks of are coming to pass. The
signs here predicted consist of violent commotions upon earth which cause
anxiety, perplexity, and distress among nations and in the hearts of men.
We may refer the expression, “the sea and the waves roaring,” to unusual
disturbances of the natural elements, and we have the most abundant
evidences of its fulfillment in the storms and convulsions of nature that
are occurring by sea and land, filling the heart with dread at the sight
of every dark cloud that arises. The tidal waves and volcanic upheavals at
sea have, in the last two or three decades, been marked with extraordinary
violence. On land, cyclones and earthquakes have carried on a fearful work
of destruction. Many instances might be cited to substantiate this
statement, but the events are too familiar to require it. Hardly a week
passes but some great calamity of this kind is recorded.
But the expression referred to is probably susceptible of another
application in which it will be found to be as forcible and pertinent to
the present state of affairs as in the one just noticed. This would be to
give the term “sea and waves” its symbolic meaning. The prophet of old
said: “And behold the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea.”
Dan. 7:2. We are told that the sea represents “peoples, and multitudes,
and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15. Taking the words in this sense, the
meaning and fulfillment are still as apparent as before; and the
expression joins its force to that of the remainder of the passage—“upon
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves
roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth.” In this sense the expression in
question would indicate commotion and violent disturbance in the social
and political world. In this meaning all will at once see the vivid force
of the text as applied to our times.
[Illustration]
Assassination of Carnot.
The times we live in are anomalous to any that have ever preceded us. For
some years there have been universal and active preparations for war, and
almost universal peace. To secure the greatest efficiency of armed forces
for defensive and offensive purposes, has been the prime consideration of
government, especially so, as far as the Old World nations are concerned.
Europe echoes to the tread of vast hosts of war while the nations are
driven to their wits’ end to provide for their support. It is well known
that these costly preparations are not for show; and the hearts of men
quail in view of the culmination which, though delayed, must soon be
reached.
But while the temple of Janus is closed as far as international strife is
concerned, and angel hands are holding the winds of war (see Rev. 7:1‐3),
internal strife and dissension are rending the vitals of the great nations
of earth. Within the confines of its own border, each of these nations is
cherishing elements of the deadliest nature. Trouble is brewing that has
for the people far more terror than foreign complications. For some time
the ominous mutterings of an oncoming storm have been heard in every land,
and it requires no remarkable acumen to discern the rapid approach of the
crisis.
The apostle James strikes directly at the matter in a prophetic glance and
exhortation in the following language:—
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that
shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments
are moth‐eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of
them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as
it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields,
which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them
which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of
Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton;
ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have
condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” James
5:1‐6.
The apostle locates the circumstances he here refers to in the last days.
He denounces the rich men who have heaped together treasures, the rust and
canker of which will be a witness against them. They live in pleasure and
wantonness while the cries of those whose wages they have kept back enter
into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
There is a universal cry of hard times in all the world. It is hard to
obtain money; and yet, there never was so much money as at present. But it
is being collected—gathered in heaps—by the powerful few, while the
limited means of the masses are dwindling lower and lower. The poorer
classes witness the absorption of wealth by the money‐kings, with feelings
that are being aroused to the point of desperation by the sense of their
inability to secure what seems to them a more equitable distribution of
the things of this world. The laborers cry, and God hears their cry.
That these things are taking place to‐day as the most prominent feature of
our social life no one will for a moment deny. Such colossal fortunes the
world has heretofore at most but dreamed of. There are men living to‐day
who have risen in wealth from obscure stations to become lords of untold
millions. Their wealth passes the bounds of just computation, for it
includes the power of oppression by which it may be indefinitely
increased. The lavish expenditure of these means for selfish pleasure
often amounts to wantonness.
Well then, what is to be done? It is a difficult and delicate matter to
frame and secure legislation by which this or any other class of men shall
be deprived of the management of their own business as long as that
business is legitimate and is legitimately conducted. Shall anarchy and
violence be resorted to? Shall the laborer seize the torch and the weapons
of death? Shall the country be devastated by strikes, strife, and civil
war? Shall our communities be rent with murder, arson, treason, and
intense personal hatred and enmity? No one possessing the natural
instincts of humanity could contemplate such a condition of affairs except
with horror. There are ghouls of society who gloat in blood; but such are
not true citizens, they are not neighbors, they certainly are not
Christians.
But what shall we do as citizens, neighbors, and Christians? This is a
question of great importance just now. Inspiration long ago foresaw our
situation. The pitying Saviour long since anticipated the sufferings that
are to come upon this generation; and having, through his servant,
outlined the present condition of affairs so closely, he certainly would
not leave his followers uninformed as to the course he would have them
pursue. We have to read only two verses farther in James’s letter to find
the counsel we need.
“_Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord._
Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the
earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early
and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; _for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh_.” James 5:7, 8.
[Illustration]
Chicago Riot.
Oppression and revolt, combination and intrigue, strife and bloodshed,
never will cease until the supreme selfishness, which in the absence of
divine grace controls all men, gives place to true philanthropy, and a
brotherhood that is not outlined by class or sectional interests. This
happy time is coming. When Jesus comes, he will take to himself his power
and reign in righteousness. Then will the hills be brought low, the
valleys exalted, the crooked be made straight, and the rough places
smooth.
Those who are weary of strife, those who through misfortune or oppression
have been made to feel their need of relief will find rest to their souls
in looking for the coming of the Lord. It is vain to match evil with evil
or to try to cure wrong with wrong. The gospel of Christ is the only
remedy for these ills. And all that we can really do to counteract the
annoyances of this life must be done through the gospel of peace. In this
time of perplexity, distress, and fear, let every Christian hold up
Christ. Let his patient suffering be exemplified in whatever circumstances
may come. Just a little beyond, there is relief.
Strikes, boycotts, lock‐outs, trusts, unions, or any other human device or
demonstration only augments the trouble, as the experience of the past few
years shows. For there never was so much of these things as now, and never
was capital so insecure, business so uncertain, and labor in such distress
as at present. The employment of arbitrary force provokes greater efforts
on the opposite side, and thus the breach is widened and the strife
becomes more bitter. We do not argue the merits or demerits of the case.
That there is deep wrong involved, the fruits plainly show. It is our task
only to point out the one remedy available alike to either and all. That
remedy is the gospel of Christ, which is soon to close in a glorious
triumph for those who have patiently and faithfully wrought his will.
“The Powers Of Heaven Shall Be Shaken.”
We do not apprehend that this circumstance will occur as a sign of
Christ’s coming, but rather that it will constitute one of the events of
his coming, the same as the features mentioned in the next verse. An
evident distinction may be drawn between the _signs_ of the advent and the
circumstances of it. With the falling of the stars, the former cease; and
with the next event the latter commence. This event, the shaking of the
powers of heaven, we must regard as being future. It holds the same place
in the events of this chapter, that the departing of the heavens as a
scroll does in the events of the sixth seal of Revelation 6. Both follow
the falling stars. The Scriptures plainly teach that, prior to the
resurrection of the just by the voice of the Son of God, the voice of God
the Father will shake the heavens and the earth, when will be fulfilled
the shaking of the powers of the heaven. This is not the voice of the Son
of God as he descends to raise the dead. It comes from the throne of God
in the temple of heaven.
“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from
Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord
will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children
of Israel.” Joel 3:16.
“Therefore will I shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove
out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the
day of his fierce anger.” Isa. 13:13.