the few
years preceding the battle of Armageddon. The calamities of these days
are of four kinds: First, social disorders; second, religious feuds and
wars; third, wonderful political disturbances; fourth, temporal or
physical disasters. Of the social condition of these last days, Paul
instructs us: "This know, also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come." Then he groups together nineteen immoral attributes of the
social state of these last days: "Men shall be lovers of their own
selves, covetous, boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient (to parents
especially), unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce
breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers, traitors, heady,
high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than God, formal in religion" (2
Timothy iii.). What, we ask, will be the state of society when the
social condition becomes such?

The religious feuds and persecutions of the last days we can but faintly
conceive. It was terrible when the beast, two hundred years ago, held
sway. The Inquisition, the rack, the stake, and all the horrors of a
wise age will be brought to bear. For in these days to come, the beast
will be joined by Anti-Christ, who will burn with rage, and vent his
displeasure on Christ's followers. Also the barbarism and savage
disposition of the Pagans will be let loose. Then will the dragon tear
and destroy. This will, indeed, be a day or time of visitation. The
political disturbances will be terrible. Nation against nation plotting
and deceiving; internal strife and outward dangers. These are of a kind
to appal one in reading them. Then come the temporal or physical evils.
These are to be a horrible train of ills in the form of pestilence,
famine, and earthquakes. The plague of yellow fever is as nought to some
of the scourges that will then go forth. Gibbon, the historian, tells of
a plague that swept away two-thirds of Europe and Asia. At that time the
dead lay unburied by thousands. In Constantinople, for three months,
five and even ten thousand persons died daily. The famines in India and
China give us some idea of those yet to come. Of the earthquakes, such
as have been will be repeated in increasing terror, violence, and
destruction. To all these shall be added fire from heaven, hail,
whirlwinds, and floods. These are times that will try men's souls. Read
the prophets for yourselves, and range yourselves on the Lord's side.

WONDERS OF T