the days of Lot, when the inhabitants of Sodom and
Gomorrah had become so sunken in idolatry and crime that the
destruction of these cities was determined, the Lord revealed to
Abraham, his righteous servant, what he was about to do. Gen.
18:17-33. Lot also was warned, that he might escape. And through
Lot the ungodly inhabitants of Sodom were warned, but they
made light of the warning. Gen. 19:14. Thus also when the Lord
determined to overthrow Nineveh, he sent Jonah with a message of
warning. The people in this great city took an opposite course to
that of the men of Sodom. They humbled themselves before God,
and repented of their wickedness; therefore the Lord spared them,
and their city was not destroyed until a later time, when the people
had returned to their wicked ways.
John the Baptist was raised up by a special providence, at the
first advent of Christ, to announce his immediate comiv
ing, and thus prepare the way before the Lord. The righteous in
that generation were not only expecting him to come soon, but
they knew that that generation would not pass away till he did
come. Read Luke 2:25, 26, 36-38.
Before the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, its inhabitants
were warned, and the way of escape was pointed out. Jesus had
said, "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then
know that the desolation thereof is nigh." And, "When ye therefore
shall see the abomination of "desolation spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him
understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the
mountains." Luke 21:20; Matt. 15, 16. All who accepted the
warning, and gave heed to the sign given them by Christ, improved
the opportunity given them for escape by the providential
withdrawal of the Roman army, after it had for some time
surrounded the city, and fled in haste to a place of safety.
Such has been the dealing of God in past ages, in reference to
all important events; and so has he promised to deal with his
people. Then we may inquire, Can anything be learned from the
Bible relative to the time of the second advent? This is a grave