‘ACME
Ba 0 MAN now living has ever wit-
WN# #4 nessed, nor has any historian
ENED SE recorded so strange and unusual
a a time as that through which we
are passing today. It 1s an age of won-
ders, of changes, of upheavals. No think-
ing man can look out upon this tumult-
uous, restless world without inquiring the
significance of these passing events, and
without being impressed that even more
important scenes are soon to be opened to
the view of an astonished world.
Serious-minded men are certainly looking
upon the present convulsed state of the
world as portending great changes. And in
view of the unprecedented turmoil, de-
pression, unemployment, famine, tempests,
inundations, earthquakes, and trouble of
the past few years, and the present extra-
ordinary perplexity and commotions among
the nations, students of Bible prophecy can-
not avoid the anticipation of events in-
comparably more important than any that
secular commentators forecast.
There are evidences all about us, signifi-
cant evidences, unmistakable evidences,
showing that we are nearing the end of
time. We see them in the abounding cor-
ruption and wickedness; in the coldness,
indifference, and lukewarmness of a formal,
lifeless church; in the appalling departure
from the old-time Christian faith; in the
vast warlike preparations of the nations; in
the crushing burden of taxation; in the
alarming increase of crime and lawlessness;
in the strange phenomena in the heavens;
ANY
[5 THIS THE WORLD &
FUNERAL?
in the fateful crash of the earthquake’s
shock; in the fear and perplexity and con-
fusion of statesmen; in the widespread
perils of these days; and in the steady
advance of “this gospel of the kingdom”
into all the world. (Matthew 24: 14.)
Certainly the times in which we live are
different from all other times of which we
have read or heard. This is an age marked
and peculiar. It is peculiar in its financial,
religious, moral, intellectual, scientific,
mechanical, national, international, po-
litical, physical, and social aspects. And
the man who sees this and frankly ac-
knowledges it need not be looked on as a
pessimist, a visionary, a dreamer, or an
enthusiast. The facts are open and
obvious to all. To those of candor, clear
perception, and common sense, they carry a
significance of mighty import.
Indeed, there are many careful and seri-
ous thinkers who, after profound study of
the past, deep search of the ancient prophe-
cies of the Bible, and careful comparison
with the present, do not hesitate to declare
their conviction that we are nearing the
end of time.
S33
srs
x While representatives of other United Nations stand each in front of his country’s flag, Mexican
Ambassador Dr. Don Francisco Catillo Majera, President Roosevelt, President Manuel Quezon
of the Philippine Commonwealth, and Secretary of State Cordell Hull sign documents aligning
Mexico and the Philippines with the United Nations cause. These men devotedly labor to avert
SEPTEMBER, 1942
what Mr. Haynes fears would otherwise be the world’s funeral.
By Carlyle B. Haynes
By all believers in the Bible, and par-
ticularly those who have given special
attention to Bible prophecy, it is agreed
that very mysterious scenes await our
world. We are approaching commotions
and changes such as never have been since
time began. God’s purposes are fixed, and
the wheel of His wonderful providence is
rolling us on to the funeral of the world
that now 1s. Every day we are approaching
nearer to a period, if we have not already
entered upon its margin, when the whole
present arrangement of things is to be
broken up and pass away.
What, then, do these things mean? To
the student of Bible prophecy they mean
but one thing,—that ‘“the coming of the
Lord draweth nigh.” (James 5:8.)
It 1s not a coincidence that these times
are an exact reproduction of the prophetic
picture of the last times. Rather are they
the fulfillment of what the prophets pro-
claimed.
The second coming of Christ was foretold
to take place in a period of abounding
apostasy, unbelief, and wickedness. Such
was the condition when God sent the flood.
Such will be the condition when Jesus
comes the second time. Our Lord Himself
declared: “As it was in the days of Noe, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of
man.” Luke 17: 26.
Peter wrote: “There shall come in the
last days scoffers, walking after their own
lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of
His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3.)
Paul declared: “That day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:3.) “In the last days
perilous time: shall come. For men shall
be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false ac-
cusers, 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.” (2 Timothy 3: 1-5.)
Such statements need no comment.
Christ will come in a period of abounding
guilt and faithlessness. Christ's second
advent will take place, too, in a period of
revolutionary troubles, political perplexi-
ties, and great national and international
agitations. Said Jesus: “There shall be
. upon the earth distress o 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. And then shall
they see the Son of man coming in a cloud
(Continued on page 17)
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