the desire of ages-第111章
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〃If therefore thou shalt not watch； I will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee。〃 Rev。 3：3。 The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers。 They are saying； 〃Peace and safety。〃 Like the priests and teachers before the fall of Jerusalem； they look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and glory。 The signs of the times they interpret as foreshadowing this。 But what saith the word of Inspiration？ 〃Sudden destruction cometh upon them。〃 1 Thess。 5：3。 Upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth； upon all who make this world their home； the day of God will come as a snare。 It comes to them as a prowling thief。
The world； full of rioting； full of godless pleasure； is asleep； asleep in carnal security。 Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord。 They laugh at warnings。 The proud boast is made； 〃All things continue as they were from the beginning。〃 〃Tomorrow shall be as this day； and much more abundant。〃 2 Peter 3：4； Isa。 56：12。 We will go deeper into pleasure loving。 But Christ says； 〃Behold； I come as a thief。〃 Rev。 16：15。 At the very time when the world is asking in scorn； 〃Where is the promise of His coming？〃 the signs are fulfilling。 While they cry； 〃Peace and safety；〃 sudden destruction is coming。 When the scorner； the rejecter of truth； has become presumptuous； when the routine of work in the various money…making lines is carried on without regard to principle； when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible； Christ comes as a thief。
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Everything in the world is in agitation。 The signs of the times are ominous。 Coming events cast their shadows before。 The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth； and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land。 There are tempests； earthquakes； fires； floods； murders of every grade。 Who can read the future？ Where is security？ There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly。 Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen。 Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders。 There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's appearing。 Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate。 Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win。
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us。 The sun shines in the heavens； passing over its usual round； and the heavens still declare the glory of God。 Men are still eating and drinking； planting and building； marrying； and giving in marriage。 Merchants are still buying and selling。 Men are jostling one against another； contending for the highest place。 Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters； horse races； gambling hells。 The highest excitement prevails； yet probation's hour is fast closing； and every case is about to be eternally decided。 Satan sees that his time is short。 He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived； deluded； occupied and entranced； until the day of probation shall be ended； and the door of mercy be forever shut。
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives： 〃Take heed to yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand before the Son of man。〃
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Chapter 70
〃The Least of These My Brethren〃
When the Son of man shall come in His glory； and all the holy angels with Him； then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory： and before Him shall be gathered all nations： and He shall separate them one from another。〃 Thus Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day。 And He represented its decision as turning upon one point。 When the nations are gathered before Him； there will be but two classes； and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering。
In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption。 He presents the faithful work they have done for Him。 To those whom He sets upon His right hand He will say； 〃Come； ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world： for I was an hungered； and ye gave Me meat： I was thirsty； and ye gave Me drink： I was a stranger； and ye took Me in： naked； and ye clothed Me： I was sick； and ye visited Me： I was in prison； and ye came unto Me。〃 But those whom Christ commends know not that they have been ministering unto Him。 To their perplexed inquiries He answers； 〃Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren； ye have done it unto Me。〃
Jesus had told His disciples that they were to be hated of all men； to be persecuted and afflicted。 Many would be driven from their homes； and brought to poverty。 Many would be in distress through disease and
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privation。 Many would be cast into prison。 To all who forsook friends or home for His sake He had promised in this life a hundredfold。 Now He assured a special blessing to all who should minister to their brethren。 In all who suffer for My name； said Jesus； you are to recognize Me。 As you would minister to Me； so you are to minister to them。 This is the evidence that you are My disciples。
All who have been born into the heavenly family are in a special sense the brethren of our Lord。 The love of Christ binds together the members of His family； and wherever that love is made manifest there the divine relationship is revealed。 〃Everyone that loveth is born of God； and knoweth God。〃 1 John 4：7。
Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology； but they have cherished His principles。 Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them。 Even among the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness； before the words of life had fallen upon their ears； they have befriended the missionaries； even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives。 Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly； those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality； yet they will not perish。 Though ignorant of the written law of God； they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature； and have done the things that the law required。 Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts； and they are recognized as the children of God。
How surprised and gladdened will be the lowly among the nations； and among the heathen； to hear from the lips of the Saviour； 〃Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren； ye have done it unto Me〃！ How glad will be the heart of Infinite Love as His followers look up with surprise and joy at His words of approval！
But not to any class is Christ's love restricted。 He identifies Himself with every child of humanity。 That we might become members of the heavenly family； He became a member of the earthly family。 He is the Son of man； and thus a brother to every son and daughter of Adam。 His followers are not to feel themselves detached from the perishing world around them。 They are a part of the great web of humanity； and Heaven looks upon them as brothers to sinners as well as to saints。 The fallen； the erring； and the sinful； Christ's love embraces； and every deed of kindness done to uplift a fallen soul； every act of mercy； is accepted as done to Him。
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The angels of heaven are sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation。 We know not now who they are； it is not yet made manifest who shall overcome； and share the inheritance of the saints in light； but angels of heaven are passing throughout the length and breadth of the earth； seeking to comfort the sorrowing； to protect the imperiled； to win the hearts of men to Christ。 Not one is neglected or passed by。 God is no respecter of persons； and He has an equal care for all the souls He has created。
As you open your door to Christ's needy and suffering ones； you are welcoming unseen angels。 You invite the companionship of heavenly beings。 They bring a sacred atmosphere of joy and peace。 They come with praises upon their lips； and an answering strain is heard in heaven。 Every deed of mercy makes music there。 The Father from His throne numbers the unselfish workers among His most precious treasures。
Those on the left hand of Christ； those who had neglected Him in the person of the poor and the suffering； were unconscious of their guilt。 Satan had blinded them； they had not perceived what they owed to their brethren。 They had been self…absorbed； and cared not for others' needs。
To the rich； God has given wealth that they may relieve and comfort His suffering children； but too often they are indifferent to the wants of others。 They feel themselves superior to their poor brethren。 They do not put themselves in the poor man's place。 They do not understand the temptations and struggles of the poor； and mercy dies out of their hearts。 In costly dwellings and splendid churches； the rich shut themselves away from the poor； the means that God has given to bless the needy is spent in pampering pride and selfishness。 The poor are robbed daily of the education they should have concerning the tender mercies of God； for He has made ample provision that they should be comforted with the necessities of life。 They are compelled to feel the poverty that narrows life； and are often tempted to become envious； jealous； and full of evil surmisings。 Those who themselves have not endured the pressure of want too often treat the poor in a contemptuous way； and make them feel that they are looked upon as paupers。
But Christ beholds it all； and He says； It was I who was hungry and thirsty。 It was I who was a stranger。 It was I who was sick。 It was I who was in prison。 While you were feasting at your bountifully spread table； I was famishing in the hovel or the empty street。 While you were at ease in your luxurious home； I had not where to lay My head。 While
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you crowded your wardrobe with rich apparel； I was destitute。 While you pursued your pleasures； I languished in prison。
When you doled out the pittance of bread to the starving poor； when you gave those flimsy garments to shield them from the biting frost； did you remember that you were giving to the Lord of glory？ All the days of your life I was near you in the person of these afflicted ones； but you did not seek Me。 You would not enter into fellowship with Me。 I know you not。
Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes of Christ's life on earth； to walk where He trod； to look upon the lake beside which He loved to teach； and the hills and valleys on which His eyes so often rested。 But we need not go to Nazareth； to Capernaum； or to B
