Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/178

 of the heavens, and of convulsions in the earth. There may be some little differences in the detail, but the main drift of the prophecies, in both cases, is to indicate a dissolution of the things to which they refer. Now the alarming prophecies of the Old Testament which are associated with the first coming, received their fulfilment at the time of that occurrence; but how were they fulfilled? Certainly not by the disruption of the universe, for all things continue as they were; how then? Clearly by the dissolution and end of the perverted things which belonged to the prevailing religion: for none of those things continue as they were. This fact, then, is the key by which to interpret similar prophecies in connection with the Lord's second coming. They were not intended to furnish us with any information concerning the destruction of the physical objects by which we are surrounded, but point to a termination to those corruptions which would, in the process of time, fix themselves upon the Church. How plain is this conclusion! The Lord, when treating of those times, said, "Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." "Many false prophets shall rise, and deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Who cannot see that these words treat of the perversion of truths which had been taught? Such is most certainly the subject of them; and, therefore, "the end," which is spoken of is not the termination of a beautiful world, but the cessation of a corrupted Church.

Besides, the language commonly cited as referring to "the end," if taken literally, shows inconsistency in the procedure. Although destruction is the main point in all the descrip-