General Conference Bulletin, vol. 7

Bible Study Hour - TOKENS OF OUR LORD’S RETURN

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

May 28, 8:30 A. M.

In the second chapter of Joel, the first verse, we read: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an, alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Let us pass on to the thirtieth and thirty-first verses: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” In the sixth of Revelation we read that “the moon became as blood.” GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.1

The Old Testament prophecy says: “Blow ye the trumpet,” and, “I will show wonders.” The wonders which the Lord through his servant foretold were to appear in the time of the end as signs of his coming, have been appearing, in harmony with the prediction, and at the time appointed. GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.2

Let us glance now at the New Testament prophecy in Luke 21:11: “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Many understand these words to refer merely to the darkening of the sun and of the moon, and to the falling of the stars; but, brethren, these great signs are only a part of that which was foretold. GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.3

In the prophecy of Joel regarding the last days, he refers not only to the darkening of the sun and the turning of the moon into blood, but also to other signs that should be given to arrest the attention of multitudes. “I will show wonders,” the Lord declares through his prophet, “in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke [Septuagint, “pillars of smoky vapor”].” Joel 2:30. This passage precedes the verse foretelling the signs in the sun and moon; and this would seem to indicate that some extraordinary appearances would be seen in the heavens prior to the appearance of the great signs in the lights placed in the firmament. GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.4

PHOTO-BRAZILIAN COLPORTEURS’ INSTITUTE, BAHIA

In traveling about in different parts of the world, I have had opportunity to gather many testimonies from various eye-witnesses regarding some of the wonderful things that have been seen in many places. In 1897 I was attending a camp-meeting in Minnesota, and Brother H. F. Phelps, now sleeping in Jesus, said to me, “Why do you not have charts made of these wonderful phenomena you have been describing to us, and write a book on them, so we can all see and read about them?” I have carried out his suggestion, and have had drawn a series of colored charts, which I will show you. GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.5

[By means of many charts specially prepared for exhibition, Elder Loughborough traced the marvelous manifestations of divine power seen in the heavens from the middle of the sixteenth century to the present time. The stenographers found it impossible to prepare an adequate report of this interesting talk, because the chief appeal was to the eye. Fortunately, however, for our readers, Elder Loughborough has written out a full account of these phenomena for publication in pamphlet form, and these descriptions, together with accurate colored reproductions of his charts, can be obtained from any of our tract societies or publishing houses. The title of the pamphlet is, “Last-Day Tokens.”] GCB May 30, 1913, page 193.6