The Signs of the Times, vol. 14

March 16, 1888

“The Spirit of Antichrist. No. 13” The Signs of the Times, 14, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

In the preceding articles of this series, it has been shown that Spiritualism is essentially antichrist, because it is wholly of the devil, and directly opposed to Christianity. It has been shown by positive testimony that Spiritualism is based upon the theory that man is naturally immortal, and that death does not end his existence. This idea is, in fact, the whole of Spiritualism. But this, we have seen, naturally leads to a denial of God and his moral Government, and makes every man his own judge; in short, it assumes for every man the attributes and prerogatives that belong to God; and since human nature is fallen, and its tendency, when unrestrained by some power outside of itself, is downward, the doctrine of the natural immortality of man is the germ out of which has grown all the evil that has cursed this earth. The claim has been made that no person who holds to that doctrine has any warrant against becoming an avowed Spiritualist, and that however much a person may think himself opposed to Spiritualism, he is essentially a Spiritualist if he believes in the conscious existence of the dead. This claim has been substantiated by many Spiritualistic quotations taken from professedly evangelical publications. The argument, in short, is this: The doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul inevitably leads to Spiritualism, and Spiritualism is from its very nature opposed to God and every vital principle of morality. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.1

But Spiritualism as a distinct system is not the only exhibition of antichrist. By the expressions “that man of sin,” and “the son of perdition” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the apostle makes undoubted reference to the Papacy. Now of that “man of sin” he says that it “opposeth and exalteth itself above all that is called God or that is worshiped.” Then of course Roman Catholicism must also be a manifestation of the spirit of antichrist. It has already been shown that Catholicism is essentially Spiritualism, in that it teaches that the dead are conscious, and that the living can communicate with them, and that the living and the dead may render assistance to each other; therefore we shall notice only two points that are peculiar to Catholicism, which show it to be antichrist. Both of these points depend wholly on the doctrine of the conscious state of the dead. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.2

The first dogma to be noticed is that of purgatory. In the “Catholic Christian Instructed,” pages 150, 151, that doctrine is thus briefly stated:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.3

“Some there are, though I fear but few, that have before their death so fully cleared their accounts with the Divine Majesty, and washed away all their stains in the blood of the Lamb, as to go straight to Heaven after death; and such as those stand in no need of our prayers. Others there are, and their numbers are very great, who die in the guilt of deadly sin, and such as these go straight to hell, like the rich glutton in the gospel (St. Luke 16), and therefore cannot be bettered by our prayers. But, besides these two kinds, there are many Christians, who, when they die, are neither so perfectly pure and clean as to exempt them from the least spot or stain, nor yet so unhappy as to die under the spot of unrepented deadly sin. Now such as these the church believes to be, for a time, in a middle state, which we call purgatory, and these are they who are capable of receiving benefit by our prayers. For though we pray for all that die in the communion of the church, because we do not certainly know the particular state in which each one dies, yet we are sensible that our prayers are available for those only that are in this middle state.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.4

This is a simple statement of the Catholic Church concerning purgatory. That it is antichristian may be seen from the fact that it is diametrically opposed to the Bible doctrine that the dead are totally unconscious. But the greatest point against it is that it leads directly to a depreciation of the sacrifice of Christ. Dr. Challoner, the author of the “Catholic Christian Instructed,” states the following question and answer:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.5

“Q. What grounds have you for the belief of a purgatory from reason? SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.6

“A. Because reason teaches these two things: 1. That every sin, be it ever so small, is an offense of God; and consequently deserves punishment from the justice of God; and therefore that every person that dies under the guilt of any such offense unrepented, must expect to be punished by the justice of God. 2. That there are small sins, in which a person may happen to die, that are so small, either through the levity of the matter, or for want of a full deliberation in the act, as not to deserve everlasting punishments. From whence it plainly follows that, besides the place of everlasting punishments, which we call hell, there must be also a place of temporal punishment for such as die in those lesser offenses, and this we call purgatory.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.7

Now mark the following:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.8

“Q. But does not the blood of Christ sufficiently purify us from all our sins, without any other purgatory? SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.9

“A. The blood of Christ purifies none that are once come to the use of reason, from any sin without repentance, and therefore such sins as have not been here recalled by repentance, must be punished hereafter, according to their gravity, by the divine justice, either in hell, if the sins be mortal, or if venial, in purgatory.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.10

David prayed to be cleansed from secret faults. Psalm 19:2. By secret faults he meant those of which he had no knowledge. This is evident from the verse itself: “Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.” He prayed to be cleansed from sins which he committed in ignorance, and which had never come to his knowledge. He knew that he must be cleansed from every sin, if he would be saved. Now Peter testifies that besides the name of Christ there is none other name under Heaven whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. Therefore to say that any person must work out, through punishment in a purgatory, some sins that Christ has not atoned for, and that afterwards he may enter Heaven, is to deny, to that extent, the virtue of Christ’s sacrifice. Thus the doctrine of purgatory is directly opposed to Christ. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.11

But read further what Dr. Challoner says of those who, having died in venial sin, are consigned to purgatory:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.12

“Q. Are they not, then, capable of relief in that state? SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.13

“A. Yes, they are, but not from anything that they can do for themselves, but from the prayers, alms, and other suffrages offered to God for them by the faithful upon earth.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.14

Thus it appears that the doctrine of purgatory, depending upon conscious existence in death, leads to prayer for the dead, and not only to that, but to indulgences, and the payment of money for the release of souls confined in purgatory. Thus: as the above quotation states, a man in purgatory may be released, and, of course, admitted to Heaven, if some of his friends give money to the church. Who cannot see that this is antichrist? It is allowing that money and good works will buy one’s way into Heaven; it is teaching men to put their trust in Mammon, at least in part, instead of wholly in Christ. Read the scorching words of the apostle Peter, in Acts 8:20-23, to one who thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.15

The doctrine of purgatory leads directly, as has been said, to the doctrine of indulgences. We have no space for lengthy quotations, and so present as a concise statement of this doctrine, the following quotation made in “McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia” from the “Treasury of the Church,” by Alexander de Hales:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.16

“The sufferings and death of Christ not only made a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of men, but also acquired a superabundance of merit. The superfluous merit of Christ is conjoined with that of the martyrs and saints, which is similar in kind, though smaller in degree, for they likewise perform more than the divine law required of them. The sum of these supererogatory merits and good works forms a vast treasure, which is disjoined from the persons who won or performed them, exists objectively, and, having been accumulated by the head members of the church, and intended by them for its use, belongs to the church, and is necessarily placed under the administration of its representatives, especially the Pope, who is supreme. It is therefore competent for the Pope, according to the measure of his insight at the time, to draw from this treasure, and bestow upon those who have no merit of their own, such supplies of it as they require. Indulgences and remissions are made from the supererogatory merits of Christ’s members, but most of all from the superabundance of Christ’s own, the two constituting the church’s spiritual treasure.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.17

This is the doctrine of indulgences in its best form. Primarily it probably does not contemplate such a thing as granting license for future sin, although this has always naturally followed. If men know that by doing penance, or by almsgiving, they can atone for certain sins, they will not be so careful to guard against those sins. So the doctrine of indulgences does lead directly to looseness of life. No matter what claims may be made, as a matter of fact no real humility is required by indulgences and penance, as there is in accepting Christ as the only Saviour. The individual trusts in himself and his own good works, and not in Christ. But without humility and self-abasement there can be no true godliness; for “his soul that is lifted up is not upright within him.” Habakkuk 2:4. And the doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul is responsible for this doctrine which leads to trust in self instead of trust in Christ, and so it appears again as the doctrine of antichrist. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.18

The first cry of the awakened sinner is, “What shall I do to be saved?” When he has been convinced of sin, and feels his utter helplessness, he instinctively looks for something to lean upon. The true minister of the gospel will point him to the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. Trusting wholly in him, the sinner can find both pardon and holiness,-cleansing from the guilt of sin, and from the love of it. But right there at that critical moment, the Catholic Church meets him and turns his attention to some “saint” who has accomplished the impossible feat of being better than the Lord wanted him to be, whose extra good works he may get if he will pray or pay for them. Thus men are elevated to a level with Christ, and all in consequence of the theory that death is not an enemy, but a friend. W. SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.19

“Christmas and Sunday” The Signs of the Times, 14, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

(Concluded.)

In one of its issues in 1884, the Christian at Work said:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.20

“It is now seen, as it is admitted, that we must go to later than apostolic times for the establishment of Sunday observance.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.21

This classes it among the institutions of which Killen says that Peter and Paul knew nothing; and Dr. Scott in his comments on Acts 20:7 admits that it was one of the institutions which, Killen says, “crept silently into use, and then claimed the rank of divine institutions.” He says:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.22

“The change from the seventh to the first day of the week appears to have been gradually and silently introduced, by example rather than by precept.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.23

As Christmas, though under a different name, was observed as a festival by the heathen long before its adoption by the Christian church, so Sunday was from the earliest ages a heathen festival day. Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary says of Sunday:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.24

“So called because this day was anciently dedicated to the sun, or to its worship.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.25

The “Encyclopedia Britannica” (Art. “Egypt”), says:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.26

“Sun worship was the primitive form of Egyptian religion; perhaps even pre-Egyptian.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.27

The “Scaff-Herzob Encyclopedia” (art. “Sun”) says:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.28

“The worship of the sun as the most prominent and powerful agent in the kingdom of nature, was widely diffused throughout the countries adjacent to Palestine. This worship was either direct, wither the intervention of any statue or symbol, or indirect. Among the Egyptians the sun was worshiped under the title of Ra.... Among the Phoenicians the sun was worshiped under the title of Baal. At Tyre, Gaza, and Carthage human sacrifices were offered to him. Among the Chaldeans the sun was worshiped under the title of Tammuz; and that the Arabians worshiped the sun, we know from Theophrastus. Still more propagated was the worship of the sun among the Syrians (Aramaeans). Famous temples were at Heliopolis, Emesa, Palmyra, Hierapolis. Sun worship there was very old, and direct from the beginning; and even in later times sun and moon were worshiped at Hierapolis without the intervention of any image. Among the pure Semites or Aryans, direct worship to the sun was paid from the beginning, and still later. Thus among the Assyrians, and afterwards among the Persians under the form of Mithras, which finally became the Sol Deus invictus [the invincible sun god] throughout the West, especially through the Romans.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 166.29

In the Old Testament Student of January, 1886, Dr. Talbot W. Chambers has an article entitled, “Sun Images and the Sun of Righteousness,” from which we make the following extracts concerning the prevalence of sun worship:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.1

“The universality of this form of idolatry is something remarkable. It seems to have prevailed everywhere. The chief object of worship among the Syrians was Baal-the sun, considered as the giver of light and life, the most active agent in all the operations of nature. But as he sometimes revealed himself as a destroyer, drying up the earth with summer heats, and turning gardens into deserts, he was in that view regarded with terror, and appeased with human sacrifices.... In Egypt the sun was the kernel of the State religion. In various forms he stood at the head of each hierarchy. At Memphis he was worshiped as Phtah, at Heliopolis as Tum, at Thebes as Aman Ra. Personified by Osiris, he became the foundation of the Egyptian metempsychosis.... In Babylon the same thing is observed as in Egypt. Men were struck by the various stages of the daily and yearly course of the sun, in which they saw the most imposing manifestation of Deity. But they soon came to confound the creature with the Creator, and the host of heaven became objects of worship, with the sun as chief.... In Persia the worship of Mithras or the sun is known to have been common from an early period. No idols were made, but the inscriptions show ever-recurring symbolic representations, usually a disk or orb with outstretched wings, with the addition sometimes of a human figure. The leading feature of the Magian rites, derived from ancient Media, was the worship of fire, performed on altars erected upon high mountains, where a perpetual flame, supposed to have been originally kindled from Heaven, was constantly watched, and where solemn services were daily rendered. The remnant of the ancient Persians who escaped subjugation by Islam, now known as Parsees, unite with their reverence for holy fire equal reverence for the sun as the emblem of Ormnzl.... Under the Roman emperors the Oriental solar worship was introduced with great pomp.... This god was proclaimed the chief deity in Rome, while all other gods were his servants. Of course this predominance of the sun worship did not continue, but the worship itself survived. For we find fifty years later, when Aurelian (274 A.D.) celebrated his triumph over the queen of the East, the temple of the sun received the gift of fifteen thousand pounds of gold.... So at the end of the second century, when Diocletian would take a very solemn oath in the face of the army, it was by the ‘all-seeing deity of the sun.’ He was still the universal object of worship, to the philosophic as an emblem, to the people at large as the deity himself. And curiously enough, this cult is found in an important sect of the ancient Christian heretics, the Manichaeans. They sang hymns to the great principle of light, and addressed prayers to the sun, or at least, when praying, turned their faces to that tabernacle in which, as they supposed, Christ dwelt.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.2

The North British Review (Vol. 18, p. 408), in an article defending Sunday observance, called Sunday “the wild solar holiday of all pagan times.” This is in harmony with the statement by Webster, that Sunday is so called because it “was anciently dedicated to the sun, or to its worship.” Remembering this, and also what has been said of the readiness with which the early church adopted heathen customs, the reader will be able, by the following quotations, to see how the Sunday festival became a “Christian” institution. Immediately following the statement concerning sun worship which we quoted from the “Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia,” we find the following under the article “Sunday:”- SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.3

“Sunday (Dies Solis of the Roman calendar, day of the sun, because dedicated to the sun), the first day of the week, was adopted by the early Christians as a day of worship. The sun of Latin adoration they interpreted as the Sun of Righteousness.... No regulations for its observance are laid down in the New Testament, nor, indeed, is its observance even enjoined.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.4

Of course no regulations for its observance are laid down in the New Testament, because it is a heathen institution. But from the above we can readily see how the heathen world so readily became nominally Christian. They did not have to give up anything; they simply worshiped the same thing under a different name. To the same effect is the following from Dr. T. W. Chambers, in the Old Testament Student, from which we have before quoted:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.5

“The Emperor Constantine, before his conversion, reverenced all the gods as mysterious powers, especially Apollo, the god of the sun, to whom, in the year 308, he presented munificent gifts; and when he became a monotheist, the god whom he worshiped was, as Uhlborn says, rather the ‘Unconquered Sun,’ than the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And indeed, when he enjoined the observance of the Lord’s day, it was not under the name of Sabbatum or Dies Domini, but under its old astronomical and heathen title, Dies Solis, so that the law was as applicable to the worshipers of Apollo and Mithras as to the Christians.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.6

With this evidence we do not see how anybody can accept Sunday as a Christian institution, and reject Christmas as a heathen festival. The evidence that Sunday was adopted into the Christian church direct from heathenism is more positive and more abundant than the evidence showing that Christmas is a relic of paganism. At some future time we shall present evidence connecting Sunday directly with the Papacy; but that is unnecessary at present. We have shown that it comes from heathenism, and everybody knows that there is not a heathen custom or doctrine in the church to-day that did not come through the great apostasy that resulted in the Roman Catholic Church. The simple fact is that Sunday stands for Baal, and all heathen worship, just as the Sabbath is the sign of Jehovah. And so to all we would say, “If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” W. SITI March 16, 1888, page 167.7

“Destruction of Sodom” The Signs of the Times, 14, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

LESSON 12.—SABBATH, MARCH 24

1. While Abraham was pleading with the Lord for Sodom, what were the two angels who accompanied him doing? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.1

“And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.” Genesis 18:22. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.2

2. At what time did the angels reach Sodom?” SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.3

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.” Genesis 19:1. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.4

3. How did Lot greet them? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.5

“4. What trait had Lot in common with Abraham?-Hospitality. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.6

5. How did he exhibit it? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.7

“And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.” Genesis 19:2, 3. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.8

6. What place of honor did Lot occupy in the city of Sodom? Verse 4. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.9

7. Cite other instances that indicate that those who sat in the gate occupied an office of public trust. Daniel 2:49; Esther 2:19, 21, 22; 3:2, 3; Proverbs 21:7; 31:23; Lamentations 5:14. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.10

8. What words of the Sodomites corroborate this? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.11

“And they said, Stand back.And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.” Genesis 19:9. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.12

9. Did Lot participate in the wickedness of the Sodomites? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.13

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” 2 Peter 2:6-8. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.14

10. What was the crying sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.15

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 7. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.16

11. What marked contrast was there between the hospitality of Lot and the actions of the men of Sodom? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.17

“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter; and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.” Genesis 19:4-7, 9. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.18

12. What did the angels say to Lot? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.19

“And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place; for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.” Verses 12, 13. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.20

13. What did Lot do? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.21

“And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.” Verse 14. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.22

14. How did his sons-in-law regard his appeal? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.23

15. What did the angels say as soon as it was morning? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.24

“And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” Verse 15. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.25

16. What steps did they take to hasten Lot and his family? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.26

“And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” Verse 16. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.27

17. What earnest charge did the angels give them? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.28

“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” Verse 17. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.29

18. As soon as Lot had escaped, what did the Lord do? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.30

“The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.” Verses 23-25. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.31

19. What happened to his wife because she disregarded the command of the angels? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.32

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Verse 26. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.33

20. What warning is given to us, in view of such facts as this? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.34

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.” Hebrews 2:1-3. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.35

21. What did Jesus say of the condition of the world just before his second coming? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.36

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-20. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.37

22. What will he do when he is revealed? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.38

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.39

23. Of what was the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah an example? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.40

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” Jude 6, 7. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.41

24. What charge is given to us who are living in these last days? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.42

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.43

25. What warning is given us? SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.44

“In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:31, 32. SITI March 16, 1888, page 170.45

NOTES

In the destruction of Sodom we have an example of divine justice, and a sample of what will be the future of all the ungodly. The apostle Peter says that the Lord made the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah “an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2 Peter 2:6. This should serve to silence those who deny that God will ever actually burn up wicked men, and who claim that the fire that is spoken of for the wicked is simply the fire of remorse. They gloried in their wickedness, until God rained fire and brimstone upon them. SITI March 16, 1888, page 171.1

The student may also notice that the fire which doomed the cities of the plain is called “eternal fire.” Jude 7. Yet it is not now burning. Then when the wicked, at the last day, shall be driven away into “everlasting fire” (Matthew 25:11), we need not conclude that the fire will never cease to burn. But must it not continue to burn forever, if it is not quenched? Not by any means. The fire that consumed Sodom and Gomorrah was not quenched, and as a consequence it turned them into ashes. If it had been quenched, they would not have been turned completely to ashes, but some ruins would have been left standing. Well, we read that the wicked shall be burned up root and branch, and that “they shall be ashes.” Malachi 4:1, 3. Now when a thing has been reduced to ashes what becomes of the fire that did the work? It goes out for lack of combustible material to feed upon. So it was with the “eternal fire” that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah: so it will be with the “everlasting fire” that shall destroy those who are found wicked at the last day; and from that fire will come forth the renewed earth, purified from the curse, and restored to its Eden beauty. W. SITI March 16, 1888, page 171.2

“Back Page” The Signs of the Times, 14, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

We are forcibly reminded of the permanency of the question, “What is in a name?” by reading that “Mrs. Bible” was one of the prominent speakers at the late meeting of the State Spiritualist Association of Michigan. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.1

We are in receipt of the Cape Times, of February 1, published at Cape Town, S. Africa, which contains the advertisement of the tent meetings then being conducted by Elders Robinson and Loyd. It contains also a very favorable editorial notice of the work. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.2

It is hoped that everybody who attends prayer-meeting will ponder well the following words by the editor of the Sunday School Times:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.3

“If, indeed, a man really believes it to be his duty to bring a chill into a prayer-meeting, he could hardly do that duty more effectively than by taking a back seat, and sticking to it persistently.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.4

The same thing applies to a woman also. Reader, are you a back seat church-member? SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.5

In one of the best equipped first-class theaters in New York City, a play was recently introduced that was so filthy that even hardened theater-goers were constrained to protest and some of the most obscene portions of the play have been cut out. Of course the whole drift of the play is vile, but with the most obscene portions eliminated, it will be allowed to run. And yet people talk about the elevating character of the stage, and many clergymen are found among its defenders. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.6

Kaiser Wilhelm, emperor of Germany, died in Berlin at 8:30 A.M., March 9, at the advanced age of ninety-one. He was crowned King of Prussia in 1861; and was proclaimed Emperor of all the Germanic States in January, 1871. His great prowess as a ruler has been ably seconded by the abilities and energies of the “Iron Prince,” Bismarck. His private life was simple, and his genial character endeared him to his people. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.7

The Crown Prince, Frederick William, succeeds him under the title of Frederick III. But his health is in such a precarious state as to render the succession of his son William, a young prince of twenty-nine years, an event very likely to occur within a few days. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.8

The following question has been handed to us for immediate answer through the SIGNS OF THE TIMES: SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.9

“Is it right, in hauling freight to the stores, to haul liquors and tobacco? When we haul our hay to town, we generally get back loads. We have hauled some whisky and beer to-, and the other night there was a man beaten to death with a club while under the influence of liquor. What shall we do when we get an order for a load of groceries, and in it there is liquor?” SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.10

We imagine that when the writer of the above sees his question in plain, cold print, he will be able to answer it for himself. We can give only one answer. Any argument which would justify him in selling it. the responsibility cannot be evaded by saying that men might injure themselves or others with anything that they might haul. People might kill themselves on flour and potatoes, but they don’t do it very often, and the object of those things is to maintain life. But the sole object of liquor is to injure men, and to put them in a condition where they will injure others. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.11

We don’t usually give direct answers to questions that are asked on matters of conscience, as we prefer to let people be conscience for themselves; but we have no hesitation in saying that the proper thing to do with whisky is, to let it alone. “But then we should not get any freight to haul.” Well, if so, then live on the profits of your hay, and go home without any back loads. You will not starve to death. If you do no matter. Remember that the martyrs might have lived a greal deal longer than they did, if they had been willing to do wrong in order to live. When it is absolutely impossible for a man to get a living without committing crime, or aiding others to do so, that is an evidence that he has lived as long as the Lord wants him to. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.12

Passing by a cigar stand the other day, we saw in bold letters the following free advice: “Smoke Sanitary Cigars!” and straightway we began to wonder what kind of cigars Sanitary cigars could be. We could not think of anything that could make cigars healthful, except the absence of tobacco, and that evidently was not what the enterprising cigar vendor meant to suggest. Finally we concluded that Sanitary cigars are just the ordinary vile compounds that we meet on the cars and the ferry-boats, and that their sanitary property is the same as that of certain “disinfectants,”-they smell so bad that people are forced to open the windows, and so they get a little fresh air. Even with that view, we think that “Sanitary cigars” are a failure, for they usually smell bad enough to vitiate all the air in the neighborhood. Ordinary air stands no show in the presence of a dozen men with cigars. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.13

It is reported in the religious press tat a great revival is progressing in Tokio, Japan, with no fewer than five hundred conversions in a single month. One religious journal, in noting the wonderful revival, and how recently the country was wholly pagan says: “Everybody is interested in Christianity, and nobody speaks against it.” Well, then, we fear that Christianity is in a bad condition in Japan. Christ said: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” When the Christians were only ‘a sect” that was everywhere spoken against, Christianity was pure and undefiled; but when Constantine elevated Christianity to the throne of the world, and nobody spoke against it, but men found that they gained popularity by accepting it, then real Christianity fled, and “that wicked” took its place. We do not believe Christ’s words have any less application to-day than they had eighteen hundred years ago. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.14

The Independent, in its latest issue, has a short editorial on “Fraudulent or Disgusting Advertisements,” in which it severely scores those religious newspapers “which lack the carnal wit to see that any advertiser who takes the public into his confidence and tells how $100 a month is likely to be paid on an investment of $350 is simply lying.” It says:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.15

“We have heard of several cases in which women have been attracted by this advertisement, and have money either sent, or been dissuaded from sending, their money to this fraudulent concern. We know a church in this neighborhood in which there were distributed three hundred copies of a religious paper in which the advertisement appeared. When no satisfaction was received to a protest against the appearance of the advertisement, that church canceled the whole subscription at once.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.16

Good! Hundreds of people are disgusted by the nauseating patent medicine advertisements which many papers mix up with their religious items, and if they would express their disapproval in as decided a way as in the above-mentioned instance, that disgrace to the cause of religion might be stopped. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.17

Not long ago the religious journals of New York were very active in working for the Saturday half-holiday. Now the Bank Superintendent of the State, in his report to the Legislature, has recommended that the law be so amended as to be limited in its operations to July and August, during which months business in the cities is usually suspended on Saturday afternoons; and the Independent says that “a better recommendations would have been a total repeal of the law altogether.” It thoughtfully adds:- SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.18

“The truth is, that the law is really of no service to anybody. The design of the Legislature in passing it, was simple to humbug the working people, by seeming to do something for them, when in fact doing nothing except to their injury.” SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.19

And that is just the case with all Sunday legislation. If the workingmen allow the Sunday law advocates to humbug them into thinking that the object of Sunday laws is to benefit them, they will find to the contrary to their sorrow when it is too late to remedy the matter. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.20

“Is It Sin?” The Signs of the Times, 14, 11.

E. J. Waggoner

An esteemed brother presents, in behalf of a friend, the following problem for solution: By the fourth commandment, we are required to rest upon the seventh day and are permitted, but not commanded, to work on the other six days; we may use them as we choose. In the event of a law requiring all to keep Sunday and permitting us to keep the Sabbath too, would it be sin in us to observe the day? The friend claims it would not be, and that we would incur sin only by keeping Sunday instead of the Sabbath. And so by keeping both days the commandments may be kept and persecution avoided. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.21

This is such an apparent two-faced policy that its advocates are not satisfied with it, but its opponents do not always understand how to meet it. One way in which it is met is to hold that the expression “Six days shalt thou labor,” is a positive command as much so as the requirement to rest upon the seventh day; so that resting on any of the six days becomes a sin. But that is not, in the minds of many a tenable position. Confirmed laziness and lawlessness is a sin, doubtless; but the resting upon a secular day, or its employment for diversion, or religious purposes, or relaxation from care, is nowhere so considered. And yet it would be sin under such an interpretation of the fourth commandment. It is, however, evident that the privilege of working six days in the week is a God-given right, of which the State should not deprive any citizen. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.22

But while the occasional cessation from labor on the six days may not be a sin, the habitual observance of another day as a rest day beside and along with the one which God appointed would be a far different matter, and would be sin. It would be subversive of the principle upon which the Sabbath stands as a peculiar day. A man who would celebrate with equal zest the holidays of two opposed nations would not be regarded with favor by either. No man can have the sign of God’s peculiar people and wear it legitimately while wearing the badge of the enemy of God’s authority. It would be sin to place on an equality with the commands of high Heaven that which we know to be the mandate of antichristian power: “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” And yet this is just what he tries to do who from respect to God’s authority keeps the Sabbath day, and from fear of the law keeps the Papal Sunday. It is true he only keeps the latter for fear of consequences, but he who fears consequences should learn to commit them to the God of Peace. SITI March 16, 1888, page 176.23