ONE summer evening, for a part of our family worship, I read the fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians. Before retiring to rest, I seated myself in my easy-chair, and mused on the last few verses of the chapter, and as I mused I fell into a deep sleep and had a most wonderful dream. My mind seemed to be clear and distinct, and my intellectual faculties stronger and brighter than in my wakeful condition.

      I thought I had awoke in the morning, and was somewhat surprised to find that my wife was not beside me as usual. Supposing, however, that her absence was temporary, I waited, expecting her speedy return to our chamber; but after the lapse of what I considered a reasonable time, as she did not make her appearance, I arose and dressed.

      My wife's apparel was where she had placed it on retiring, and I felt confident that she was somewhere about the house. So I went to my daughter Julia's room, thinking she might know the whereabouts of her mother; but after knocking several times without response, I entered, and found that she also was missing. "Strange, passing strange!" said I to myself; "where can they both be?" Then I went to the room of our son Frank, and found him up and already dressed, which was something quite unusual for him at an hour so early. He said he had passed a very restless night and thought he might better get up. I told him of the absence of his mother and sister from their rooms, and requested him to look around and see if he could find them. In the meantime I hurriedly completed my toilet, and soon Frank returned and said the missing ones were nowhere to be found, [497] and that every door leading outward was securely locked, as on the preceding evening. We were at our wits' end, and what to make of this strange occurrence we did not know. On again visiting Julia's room we found on a stand her well-marked open Bible. One prominent verse attracted my attention. It read, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." This passage, my wife had always declared, referred to the coming of Christ for His saints, the redeemed Church, according to 1 Thess, iv. 14-17, while I insisted that it meant only the preparation for death. But I am digressing. Frank and I concluded that, without waiting for breakfast, we should each take a different route, and visit some of our most intimate friends, in quest of our dear ones.

      I called on my wife's sister, Mrs. E. She and her husband were good, respectable people, members of a Christian Church, though rather worldly-minded. After I had rung the bell several times, and waited somewhat impatiently, she appeared and apologised for her dilatoriness by saying that she was "in a peck of trouble," and had to prepare breakfast herself, for her colored servant girl, whom she had always considered to be a good Christian, had played her a mean trick. "She had gone off somewhere, without even putting the kettle on the fire, or saying a word to any of us. But what puzzles us to know is how she got out of the house, for the doors were all locked and the keys inside, just as we left them on our return from Mrs. B.'s progressive euchre party." "Indeed!" said I, "it is exceedingly strange," and then I explained to her the object of my morning visit. When she heard of the mysterious absence of my wife and Julia, she became so very nervous that I was glad to change the subject by saying that, as I had not yet breakfasted, I would join them in their morning repast. When her husband heard my story he treated it with a good deal of levity, and declared that my wife was only playing me a practical joke, to induce me to rise earlier in the morning. He was sure the missing ones had secreted themselves somewhere about the house, and that when I returned home I would find them all right.

      As we seated ourselves at the table, Mrs. E. said we would have to take coffee without milk, as her milkman, who had heretofore been very reliable, had failed to make his appearance.

      Presently the door-bell rang, and Frank entered in a state of great excitement, saying that he had been all over enquiring for his mother, and that in almost every house he found trouble [498] similar to our own. Almost every family was anxiously searching for missing ones.

      He had just come from one home where he found the servant girl alone, but much agitated in consequence of the numerous calls she had had to answer about missing friends. He also stated that the streets were thronged with excited people, hurrying to and fro, many of them weeping bitterly. At this announcement Mr. E. showed evident signs of alarm, and related a conversation he had held on the previous day with a friend, whose religious ideas he looked upon as quite heretical.

      His friend insisted that a great majority of Church members in those days were but nominal Christians, "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," and that the love of the masses for religious things had reached a very low ebb. "My friend also assured me," said Mr. E., "that the Scriptures clearly taught that, when the elect number of Christ's Church would be completed, Christ would come as unexpectedly as a thief in the night, and call His saints, both those who had fallen asleep and those who were then alive, to meet Him in the air. The transformation would be effected in the twinkling of an eye; and although the CALL would be made with a shout and the sound of a trumpet, yet only those for whom it was intended would hear it. Then would be realised the import of Christ's words, 'There shall two be in the field, one shall be taken and the other left; two women shall be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken and the other left.' I fear that time has now come, and, sad to say, we are among those who are LEFT."

      Now as the morning was far advanced, it was suggested that we should go down to our business places. Frank had already gone to his office, and I, with a heavy heart, wended my way along the avenue, among the unusual throng of men and women, whose faces betokened intense sorrow. In the business parts of the city I observed that many stores were closed, and those that were open did not appear to be doing any business. Every saloon that I passed was open, as usual, with groups of men outside, apparently engaged in serious discussion. As I passed by the City Hall there was no perceptible diminution of the usual crowd of political "hangers-on" around that building.

      When I reached my own store, I found that my bookkeeper, and the faithful old porter, who had served me for so many years, had not put in an appearance. My two other clerks were at hand, doing nothing; nor did I feel like asking them to do anything. [499]

      Yesterday I agreed to sell a worthy mechanic a small piece of land which I owned in the outskirts of the city, and had an appointment to meet him at my lawyer's office to sign the contract; but he failed to come, and I presumed that he also had joined the absent ones. I then went to the Chamber of Commerce, and found the largest gathering of merchants that I had seen there for many months. Instead of the lively, noisy bustle of buying and selling, and of clerks and messengers running to and fro, there was a solemn gloom pervading the whole assembly. By unanimous consent, and in consequence of the great calamity that had overtaken the community, it was voted "that three days' grace be allowed on all contracts falling due on this day." I will not attempt to set forth any of the reasons and speculations that were advanced as to the cause of the trouble, but all agreed that the visitation was a supernatural one, and that in some way we who were left on the earth were blameable for it.

      In the evening almost every church in the city was open, with overflowing congregations. Everybody was anxious to know the cause and meaning of the great "visitation," and to learn how lost hopes might be regained. Many of the pastors had gone with the missing ones, but some were present in their churches. All order of service was dispensed with, and noise and confusion prevailed; crimination and recrimination were bandied to and fro between the pastors and the people. The latter asserted that, if the pastors had done their duty, and taught their flocks the plain truth of the Bible, instead of lulling them to sleep with philosophical and moral essays, they would not now be in their present sad condition. In my own church the pastor was present and also scores of persons whom I had but rarely seen at meetings.

      The pastor was speaking when I entered the place, and was entreating the audience to endeavor to allay their feelings while he would attempt to speak to them for a few minutes. Quietness being somewhat restored, he said: "The pastor's heart is bleeding at every pore in sympathy with his sorely afflicted people. The anguish which I experience at being, in a measure, the cause of our present condition is indescribable. None of you can realise the keen disappointment I endure at this result of my labors. I am accused of having preached too much about the affairs of this life, and too little about the heavenly state and the things to come, and of having kept you in ignorance of the imminency of the awful visitation which has manifested itself among us this day. In reply to all these accusations, I can only say that I have [500] taught you the same theology that was taught to me in college, and which I, in common with the great majority of our ministerial brethren, firmly believed to be the teaching of God's Word. But now I have to confess that I was sadly mistaken, for, after what has occurred, I cannot help believing that GOD'S WORD MEANS JUST WHAT IT SAYS. My pastoral labors, during all the time I have been with you, have been excessive, and, in consequence, I have not been able to devote to the study of prophecy the time which a subject so deep demanded."

      Many remember that during the last fifty years some of the faithful watchmen have kept ringing into the ears of the Church the warning that this event was hastening upon this generation. Christ Himself said: "As the days of Noah and of Lot were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Yet those in ignorance of the prophecies have denounced God's faithful watchmen as croakers, sensationalists, and lunatics. But now the Lord has vindicated their teachings by fulfilling this Bible truth.

      Here the electric light suddenly went out, and there arose such fearful screams that I sprang to my feet in terror, and--awoke!

      My wife, who was in an adjoining room, hearing my sudden uprising, hastened in to see what was the matter. Oh, how glad I was to see her, and to realise that my terrible experience in my easy chair was only a dream. But the more I thought of it afterward, the more solemn seemed the Scripture truths which it contained, and the more was I impressed with the importance of having our lamps trimmed and burning, ready to go out to meet the Bridegroom.

      References to the Departure of the Lord Jesus.--Matt. ix. 15, xxiv. 36-51, xxv. 1-30; Luke xix. 11-27; John xvi. 16, 28, xx. 17; Acts i. 9-11; i Peter iii. 22.

      The present position and work of the Lord Jesus.--Acts ii. 32-36, iii. 20, 21, v. 30, 31, vii. 55, 56; Rom. viii. 34; Heb. i. 1-3, ii. 5-10, ix. 24-26; 1 Peter iii. 21, 22.

      The gathering of the Church out of the world.--Mark xvi. 15-16; Luke xiv. 15-24; Matt. xxii. 11-14; Acts xv. 13, 14; 1 Cor. i. 21-31; Eph. ii. 19-22.

      The position of Christians during the absence of the Lord Jesus.--Matt. xxiv. 42-44, xxv. 13; 1 Cor. i. 7, 8; 1 Thess. i. 9, 10, iii. 11-13, v. 1-8; 2 Thess. ii. 1-4, iii. 3-5; Titus ii. 11-14; Heb. ix. 27, 28; James v. 7,8; 1 Peter i. 3-16, iv. 12, 13; 2 Peter iii. 14; 1 John ii. 28, iii. 2, 3.

      Characteristics of the last days of the Christian Era.--Matt. xxiv. 6-14; Luke xviii. 7, 8; 1 Tim. iv. 1-3; 2 Tim. iii. 1-5, iv. 3, 4; 2 Peter ii. 1-3, iii. 1-5; Rev. iii. 15-22.

      The promise of the return of the Lord Jesus.--John xiv. 1-3, 18; Acts i. 10, 11; Heb. ix. 27, 28; Rev. iii. 11; xxii. 7, 12, 20.

      The promise to Christians of Resurrection, Translation, and Immortality at the return of the Lord Jesus.--John xi. 25, 26; Rom. vi. 5; 1 Cor. vi. 14, xv. 49-57; 1 Thess. iv. 13-18; 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8; Col. iii. 3, 4; Rom. viii. 16-25.

      The blessedness of having part in the First Resurrection.-Luke xiv. 13, 14, xx. 34-36; 1 Cor. vi. 2, xv. 23; Phil. iii. 11 (read from among the dead); 2 Tim. ii. 12; 1 Thess. iv. 16; Rev. i. 6, iii. 21, v. 9, 10; xx. 5, 6.

      The place prepared by the Lord Jesus for His Bride, the Church.--Gal. iv. 26; Phil. iii. 20, 21 (for "conversation "read citizenship); Heb. xi. 10, xii. 22; Rev. xxi.

      The celebration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.--John ii. 4 (" Mine hour," or the time for Me to provide wine for My nuptials with the Church); Luke xxii. 17, 18, 29, 30; Eph. v. 27; Rev. xix. 6-10; Psalm xiv. 11-17; Cant. ii. 4.

      The Coming of the Lord Jesus with His saints to the Earth, and their Reign over it.--Dan. vii. 18, 22, 27; Zech. xiv. 4, 5; Matt. xix. 28, 29; Luke xxii. 28-30; 1 Cor. vi. 2; 1 Thess. iii. 13; 2 Thess. i. 7-10; Jude 14, 15; Rev. i. 7; xvii. 14.

      The close of the Times of the Gentiles.--Luke xiii. 24, 25, xxi. 24; Rom. xi. 25; Heb. iv. 7; 2 Peter iii. 9-15; Rev. vi. 12-17, xviii. 4-24.

      The commencement of the seventieth week (of seven years) mentioned in Daniel ix. 24, Jerusalem and its Temple having been rebuilt, the Antichrist enters into a covenant with the Jews.--John v. 43; Dan. ix. 27, xi. 29-39, 45; Matt. xxiv. 15-22; 2 Thess. ii. 3-11; Rev. xiii., xix. 19, 20. [It may here be observed that the 70 weeks of 7 years determined upon Daniel's people (Dan. ix. 24-27) are divided into three periods:--First 7, or 49 years, being from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem till the accomplishment of the work. Secondly, 62, or 434 years, till the death of the Messiah. Thirdly, 1, or 7 years, beginning at the close of the "Times of the Gentiles," during which last period the Antichrist will reign over the Jews. The duration of the interval, dating from the end of the 434 years till the commencement of the last 7, constituting the "Times of the Gentiles," is not mentioned in Scripture.] [502] The Antichristian Confederacy of the Ten Kingdoms of the Roman Empire.--Dan. vii. 7,23-27; Rev. xii. 3, xiii. l, xvii. 3,13,14; Dan. ii. 44, 45.

      The gathering of the armies of the nations around Jerusalem and their destruction by the Lord Jesus.--Joel iii.; Zeph. iii. 8; Luke xxi. 20; Dan. xi. 45, xii. 1; Zech. xiv. 1-5, 12-19: Isa. lxiii. 1-6; Rev. xix. 11-21; Isa. xxix. 5-8 (for "Ariel" read Jerusalem, verse 7); Luke i. 68-75; Isa. ii. 1-5.

      A few of the many promises referring to the Jews and to Israel at the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus.--Psalm. xlvii., lxix. 34-36, lxxii., lxxxv. 8-13, lxxxix. 20-29, ex., cxlix.; Isa. ix. 6, 7, xi. 10-16, xii., xxx. 18-26, xlix. 13-23, lix. 20, lx., lxi., lxii., lxvi. 20-22; Jer. xxiii. 1-8, xxxi. 38-40, xxxii. 36-44, xxxiii. 14-16; Ezek. xlviii. 35; Mic. v. 1-5; Hag. ii. 6-9; Zech. vi. 12, 13, viii. 1-15, xii. 10; Mal. iii. 1, iv. 5, 6; Matt. xxiii. 37-39; Luke i. 32; Acts iii. 20, 21; Rom. xi. 11-29.

      The glory of the Holy City seen from the Earth during the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus, and the Saints pass to and fro.--Gen. xxxiii. 12; John i. 47-51, xiv. 1-3; Rev. xxi. 23-27.

      The blessed state of the Earth during the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus.--Psalm lxxii., lxxii., xcvi.; Isa. ii. 1-5, xi. 1-9, xxv. 6-9, xxxii. 1-5, xxxv., xii. 17-20; Jer. xxiii. 5, 6, xxxi. 34; Mic. iv. 1-7; Hab. ii. 14; Zeph. iii. 9; Zech. ix, 10, x. 1; Mal. i. 11; Acts iii. 20, 21; Rom. viii. 20, 21; Rev. xi. 15-18.

      The gathering of the nations against Jerusalem at the close of the Millennium, and their destruction by fire from heaven.--Ezek. xxxviii.; Rev. xx. 7-10.

      The General Resurrection and Judgment before the Great White Throne.--Ezek. i. 26; Dan. vii. 9, 10; Rev. xx. 11-15. [The Scriptures mention several judgments, of which the following may be considered the principal ones:--First, the judgment of the saints before the judgment-seat of Christ, when they will be rewarded according to their works. Secondly, the judging of the nations of the earth before the throne of Christ at His second coming, and continuing to judge the world in righteousness during the thousand years of His reign. Thirdly, the judgment of all the dead at the general resurrection before the Great White Throne of the Father.]

      The Millennial Kingdom ruled by the Lord Jesus, at the end thereof delivered up to the Father.--1 Cor. xv. 24-28; Rev. xxi. 1-8.

      "THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce [or covenant]--breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim. iii. 1-5). "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Tim. iv. 1, 2). "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? for since the [503] fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation'" (2 Peter iii. 3, 4).

      IT may be said with reference to most of these that they have been the characteristics of mankind, more or less, in all past ages. But it is the more or less that makes all the difference between the past ages and the present.

      Covetousness.--Was there ever a period in the history of the world when the desire for gain was so great as at present? Witness the accumulation of large fortunes for the sake of the possession of wealth; also "booms" of various kinds, and the betting and gambling mania, to make money without working for it, for the purpose of indulging in selfish and hurtful lusts.

      Blasphemers.--Instance the very common practice of the way in which the names of God and of Christ are blasphemed daily.

      Disobedient to parents.--This is one of the most common complaints of the present time. In extreme cases the aid of the State is sought to control unmanageable children; but there are thousands of instances where parents complain of their utter inability to cope with the disobedient, and just tolerate and bear with it. In connection with this may be mentioned the sad fact of unthankfulness and the absence of natural affection. In his annual report, the Commissioner of Police, referring to the increase of juvenile depravity, attributed the fact to the "want of parental control, lack of religious training, and the wilful disregard by parents of the future of their offspring."

      Despisers of those that are good.--While good men and true are held in high esteem by the few, they are despised by the masses, who show their preference for men of doubtful character, and place them in positions of power and authority.

      Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.--The pursuit of pleasure by the masses is one of the most marked characteristics of the age, and attention has frequently been directed to the fact by the secular press. Many of the Churches also cater almost as much to gratify pleasure-seekers as the world.

      Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.--There is a general admission that there is a sad lack of prayer and spirituality in most Churches. Dr. A. J. Pierson not long since affirmed that, it was his belief that "God is actually withdrawing His Holy Spirit from His Church as a body."

      Scoffers.--Their name is legion; and especially is the promised coming of the Lord Jesus Christ scoffed at by many, even professing Christians.

      Seducing spirits.--The rapid and marvellous spread of Spiritism is phenomenal, and its leaders boast of millions of persons who believe in it, and, by means of "mediums," hold communication with demons or departed spirits.

      This Appendix can be had in pamphlet form, price, 3d. each, or 2s. 6d. per dozen, at Mr. A. Hyde's Bible Hall, Flinders Street. [504]

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