tired of expatiating on what he describes as the 'King's cloth;' that is to say, the uniform, which he, like many other sovereigns, chooses to regard as the livery, not of the State nor of the Nation, but of the monarch, to whom the wearer is bound by special ties of allegiance, loyalty and blind, unquestioning obedience. Nor must it be forgotten that in all instances of dispute and strife between civilians and military men the Emperor always upholds the latter, even when they are shown to be the aggressors, and actually to the extent of either pardoning or commuting the always lenient sentences that have been inflicted upon officers who, while drunk, have seriously wounded, and in some cases killed, unarmed and inoffensive civilians. "ATTITUDE OF THE GERMAN ARMY. "What will be the attitude of the army should the anticipated struggle between Crown and people take place? In court and official circles at Berlin it is believed that the Emperor will be able to rely upon his troops. But this opinion is in no way shared by the people themselves, nor yet by the leading German politicians of the day. The rank and file of the army is no longer composed, as in former days, of ignorant boors, unable either to read, write or even think for themselves, but of thoughtful, well-educated men, who have been taught at school what are the rights and constitutional prerogatives for which their grandfathers and fathers fought in vain. They know, too, enough of history to appreciate the fact that in every struggle between the Crown and the people it is always the latter that has ended by carrying the day." THE WRATH OF GOD. "The wrath of God is Love's severity "The wrath of God is punishment for sin, In measure unto all transgression due. Discriminating well and just between Presumptuous sins and sins of lighter hue. "The wrath of God inflicts no needless pain "The wrath of God is a consuming fire, That burns while there is evil to destroy Or good to purify; nor can expire Till all things are relieved from sin's alloy. "The wrath of God is Love's parental rod, The disobedient to chastise, subdue, And bend submissive to the will of God, That Love may reign when all things are made new. "The wrath of God shall never strike in vain, Nor cease to strike till sin shall be no more; Till God his gracious purpose shall attain, And earth to righteousness and peace restore." CHAPTER XII. OUR LORD'S GREAT PROPHECY. MATT. 24; MARK 13; LUKE 21:5-36; 17: 20-37. IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROPHECY.-THE CONDITIONS AND THREE QUESTIONS WHICH CALLED IT FORTH.-BEWARE OF FALSE CHRISTS.-A BRIEF HISTORIC FOREVIEW OF Eighteen Centuries.-The TROUBLE IN THE CLOSE OF THE JEWISH AGE, AND THAT CLOSing the Gospel Age, Blended in the Language OF ALL THE EVANGELISTS.-THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.-FLEE TO THE MOUNTAIN.-Those with Child, etc.—Before Winter and the SABBATH LO HERE! LO THERE! BELIEVE THEM NOT.-THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS. -THE DARKENING OF THE SUN AND MOON AS SIGNS.-THE FALLING OF THE STARS. SYMBOLIC FULFILMENTS ALSO-THE SIGN OF THE SON of Man.— WHAT THE TRIBES OF EARTH SHALL SEE. THE FIG TREE." THIS GENERATION."-WATCH!" AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, THEY KNEW NOT."-REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE.-ONE TAKEN AND ANOTHER LEFT.-THE ELECT TO BE GATHERED TO THE TRUTH.-SATAN'S HOUSEHOLD TO BE BROKEN UP.-PROVISIONS FOR FEEDING THE HOUSEHOLD of Faith. UR Lord uttered one of the most remarkable proph OUR ecies of Holy Writ respecting the "Time of the End," the closing epoch of this Gospel age. It was uttered near the close of his earthly ministry, when he was endeavoring to prepare his disciples gradually for the new dispensation, which would be fully introduced after the tragedy of Calvary. He wished them to understand that they must not expect immediately the honors and glories of the Kingdom, which he had promised should be shared by his faithful. Before these glories and blessings, would come trials and sufferings. He, their master, the King, must be rejected of Israel and be crucified, in harmony with the prophetic declarations, then Israel would be given over to their enemies, and their holy city and costly temple be utterly destroyed: moreover, his disciples must not expect to be above their Master, exempt from the reproaches and sufferings that fell on him; but that faithfulness to him and his teachings would cause them to be hated of all men for his sake; but that finally, though after much tribulation, those faithful unto death would be rewarded, when he would come again to receive them unto himself and to a share of his glory. Teaching along this line our Lord reserved until near the close of his ministry. At first the disciples were disposed to resent this, and to insist (as some do to-day) that the Lord's cause must conquer the world, as a result of their preaching; and Peter went so far as to express the dissent to our Lord, saying, "Be it far from thee, Lord, this [death and the scattering of thy people and the triumph of evil generally] shall not be unto thee." (Matt. 16:22; Mark 8:31, 32.) But our Lord severely rebuked Peter; and all of the disciples seem to have gradually settled down to a realization that the glories of the Kingdom were still remote, and that the Master must go away, and, leaving them, send the Comforter, the holy spirit, to guide and keep them until he would come again in the glory of the Father's Kingdom. It was in this attitude of mind and with our Lord's latest expression with reference to the temple, still ringing in their ears, that the disciples sought from the Master definite information on these points which were not yet clear in their minds. THE THREE QUESTIONS. "And as Jesus sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us (1) When shall these things [the destruction of the Temple, etc.] be? and (2) What shall be the sign of thy presence* and (3) of the end of the world [age]?"-Matt. 24:3. Undoubtedly the opportunity and the questions were of divine providence; for the prophecy was surely meant more for the instruction of God's people living in this "harvest" time, than for those who asked the questions. In studying this prophecy it is very necessary to keep in memory the questions to which it is the inspired answer. The prophecy is given with much similarity by three of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke; but since Matthew's is the most complete and orderly, we follow its narrative in general, bringing forward any modifications noted in the other accounts. BEWARE OF FALSE CHRISTS. "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."-Matt. 24:4, 5. Gamaliel mentions two o. these false Christs in his speech referred to in Acts 5:36, 37; and history tells us of several others who deceived quite a few Jews. Most notable among these was Sabbathai Levi, of Smyrna, who announced himself A. D. 1648. Sabbathai Levi styled himself "The first-born Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of Israel," and promised a restoration of the kingdom and prosperity. Sabbathai, says the historian, "prevailed there [in Smyrna] to such a degree that some of his followers prophecied and fell into strange ecstasies: four hundred men and women prophecied of his growing kingdom. The people acted for a time as those possesse * The Greek word parousia, here used, invariably signifies presena and not coming-See Revised Version-margin; also the Emphatic Diaglott. ป |