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end of the world, he did not tell them there would be a thousand years of peace and happiness, or that the whole world would be converted. Such a notable sign as this he would not have omitted, if it was to occur. "But as

the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." As much as to say, As when the flood came in the days of Noah, and the burning in the time of Lot, so will it be when the Savior comes the second time. The people will be giving their special attention to the affairs of this world, to buying and selling, building and planting, marrying, and giving in marriage, and as unbelieving as to Christ's coming, as the generation of Noah were concerning the flood.

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But will not the knowledge of the Lord cover, or fill the whole earth? Yes; when the saints inherit the earth, and not at the coming of Christ; for this event is expressly noted by the signs, as in the days of Noah." The suddenness of Christ's coming shows that it will be to the wicked as a thief in the night, as a snare upon the nations—as in the time of Pharaoh, when the destroying angel went out at midnight, and a cry of distress was heard throughout the land.—Ex. xii. 29. To the very period of the Savior's advent, there will

be impiety, unbelief, luxury, commotions, wars and rumors of wars, and constant inquiry, "Where is the promise of his coming?"

The parable of the tares and wheat shows that the people of God never will be the praise of the whole earth, until the harvest, which is the end of the world. Until that time, the wheat and tares will grow together, when Christ will send forth his angels and gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity. Then shall the righteous shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

3. Prophecies were not intended to be understood until accomplished. What is the great

object of prophecy, in the

Word of God, but

to confirm our faith in the events therein foretold. Now, if we are not to understand the prophecies, or to investigate them with special reference to the events predicted, then a great portion of the Bible was a sealed book to the early Christians. Now, we believe the Word of God is a true light, which shines on our present path, and penetrates into the future. The first advent of our Savior was prophecied, and, no doubt, those who waited for the "consolation of Israel" had their hopes excited, and their faith strengthened by the prophecy of the 70 weeks in Daniel.

The expectation of a Messiah was also prevalent among the Jews, and was confirmed by the mission of John the Baptist. And did not Daniel learn from books (prophecy) that the long captivity of the Jews, in Babylon, was about terminating? "I Daniel, understood, by books, the number of the years, whereof the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish 70 years in the desolations of Jerusalem." He understood the prophecy, and set himself to prayer and supplication, when the angel was sent "to tell him what should befall his people in the latter days, and that he should stand in his lot at the end of the days." Daniel did understand the prophecy before it was fulfilled.

Noah was commissioned to prophecy the destruction of the old world by a flood; and for the very purpose that the wicked might not be overtaken without warning. They were without excuse in not believing the prophecy.

The design of prophecy is not merely to confirm our faith in the Scriptures, but to give us a knowledge of the events to which the prophecy relates. Take the example of the destruction of Jerusalem. If the disciples had regarded the Savior's prophecy of that event only of use after it was accomplished, they

would doubtless have perished in the siege. But they availed themselves of the warning which Christ made to them, previous to his departure, and escaped the desolations which came upon the Jews. Christ prophecied certain signs, by which they might know as to the time of the event. They saw these signs, believed, and fled to the mountains in Pella.

Now Christ has given in the same chapter, a prophecy respecting his 2d coming; notable signs, by which we may know, for a certainty, as to the event at hand. The warning voice is discernable in those signs, and whatever indifference or unbelief, may exist in the church and the world on this subject, it will be heard, so that when he comes he will find some faith on the earth.

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