The mighty tool in Satan’s hands for the destroying of the hope of Christ’s coming has been a simple one:  zealous souls have been found who, ignoring the statements of Scripture, would attempt to fix the day of His coming.  Then, as their prophecy failed, the world and many in the Church have laughed them to scorn.  Unfortunately they came to laugh also at the very promise of God, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” and in so doing they have fulfilled some of the very things that are predicted for the end of the age:  “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts (desires), and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (II Pet. 3:3, 4).  Thus Satan’s authority is being established.

The exact time of Christ’s return has not been revealed; nor will it be announced by a prophet.  Nevertheless, the “children of light and the children of the day” “are not in darkness that that day should overtake them as a thief” (I Thes. 5:4,5).  It is their privilege to rejoice in every promise of His coming, and to recognize every new indication of His nearness, as eagerly as the betrothed awaits her beloved.  The true believer’s glory, as well as his union with loved ones in Christ, is imminent, and by faith he can look beyond the days of the earth’s greatest anguish, and, seeing the triumph of all blessedness, he can rejoice in the hope of His Lord’s coming, and be praying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

It is, therefore, impossible to know how much of time yet remains for the gathering out of the Bride and the development of Satan’s rule; yet it is evident that within the last generation the exact fulfillment of those things which are predicted for the last days has begun, and is even now developing faster than the mind can comprehend.

Not all the signs of the times have a place in these pages, but only such as are directly connected with the working of Satan.

Since the blood redemption of the Cross is the central truth and value of the true faith, it being the “power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 1:23, 24), any counterfeit system of doctrine which would omit this essential, must force some secondary truth into the place of prominence.  Any of the great Scriptural subjects which are of universal interest to humanity, such as physical health, immortality, morality, or religious forms, may be substituted in the false systems, for that which is vital.  And while those subjects are all found in their proper relations and importance in the true faith, the fact that people are universally inclined to give attention to them furnishes an opportunity for Satan to make a strong appeal to humanity through them; using these subjects as central truths in his false and counterfeit systems.  Many are easily led to fix their attention upon the secondary things, and to neglect wholly the one primary thing; especially is this true since the secondary things are tangible and seen:  while the one essential thing is spiritual and unseen; and Satan has blinded their eyes toward that which is of eternal value.