2 "And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which hath been crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, even as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not; go tell My brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.
11 "Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day."
7 "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you."
9 "Now when He was risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven devils. She went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved."
12 "But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his house, wondering at that which was come to pass."
1 "Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid Him. Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together; and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, which came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 "But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping; so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if Thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto Him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith to her, Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father; but go unto My brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and My God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and how that He had said these things unto her."
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. Describe the scene when the angel of the Lord visited the tomb of Jesus. Matt. 28:2, 3.
2. How did the accompanying glory affect the guards at the tomb? Verse 4. (Acts 12:7-10.)
3. When sufficiently recovered, what did members of the guard do? Verse 11.
4. What was done to keep the guards from revealing what they had seen? Verses 12-15.
5. Before it was yet fully light, who came to visit the sepulcher? John 20:1. (Mark 16:1, 2.)
6. Seeing the tomb unsealed, what did Mary do? Verse 5.
7. Upon receiving the word, what did Peter and John immediately do? Verses 3-8.
8. How did the view of the empty tomb affect Peter's mind? Luke 24:12.
1. EVIDENTLY the women were at first sight somewhat startled at the brightness of the Lord's messenger, but his assuring words gave them comfort. This incident well illustrates the surety of God's promise that when terror overtakes the wicked, it will not come nigh those who make the Lord their fortress. Ps. 91:1-8. This was especially true in the case of the women, to whom the angel said, "I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified."
2. AFTER Peter's cowardly denial of the Lord on the night of His betrayal, this word to send the message direct to Peter was an assurance that the Lord had already forgiven his wicked act. It is also one of the strong evidences of the Lord's long-suffering toward those who now commit folly under great temptation.
3. FROM this statement of the Saviour it is very evident that the thief did not ascend to the Father with Jesus on the day of the crucifixion. See Luke 23:43. The "to-day" of the promise must therefore refer to the time of making the promise, rather than to the time of its fulfilment. This would naturally be read from the text were the comma after the word "thee" to follow the next word, which might be done without violence to inspiration, since punctuation points are no part of inspiration, but a modern invention.
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A thoughtful exposition of the significance of the social and political problems of to-day, and increasing natural phenomena.
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The Prevalence of Crime a Sign of Our Times,
Judgment is Turned Away Backward,
The Social Vice,
The Earth is Filled with Violence,
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"A SENSATION EXPLODED."
THE following, under the above head, will speak for itself; it appeared in the Williamsport, Pa., Keystone Gleaner of Feb. 22, 1900:—
"About four weeks ago a sensational account was published in the New York Journal, which was largely copied by other newspapers, of an event which occurred in Bradford County, this State. The article reflected upon Seventh-day Adventists. It was represented that a disgraceful scene occurred at a funeral service, which was attended by a 'crowd of Adventists.' The Adventists crowded around the coffin, and at the close of the service one of them, in a loud voice, commanded the dead man to arise. The community was said to be very much aroused over the affair.
"The affair has been carefully investigated, and it has been found that a mountain has been made out of a mole-hill. A young man, known to be peculiar in his habits, had been attending a general meeting of Seventh-day Adventists recently held in Bradford County, and, seemingly, was very much impressed by the spirit of the meeting. He, however, was laboring under a delusion, as he imagined that the Lord had called him to be a prophet. At the funeral above mentioned he went into the house when the undertaker asked if there were any friends who wished to view the body, he being the last person to go to the casket. While viewing the remains he seemed very much agitated, and in a very low voice he commanded the dead man to arise and forgive him. Only four or five persons heard him speak. The undertaker took hold of the young man and requested him to go out. He went quietly to the door, got into his buggy, and drove away. Only one Seventh-day Adventist was present, and he was a relative of the deceased. The whole affair was caused by this irresponsible person, and should not have been charged to the Seventh-day Adventists."
War as Now
War as Now.—Mr. Sheldon says in his first editorial in the Topeka Capital: "The paper will declare its abhorrence of war as it is being waged to-day, not only in Africa, but in the Philippines and everywhere else."
This we suppose refers to the motive of war, not its manner; for the present wars are very merciful as regards loss of life and care of the soldiers and wounded as compared with ancient warfare. But the motive of some later wars, that is a different thing.
How Is It?—The Indian Mason says:—
"Masonry is willing to help those in need, and speaks a word of comfort in time of trouble."
"Masonry is love, love toward man, love for the beautiful, brotherly love, love for the good, the honest, and the true."
Now these are excellent principles; but may we not inquire, "Are they true?" "Those in need" is a broad expression, embracing all needy ones. Do these come within the field of Masonic effort? We believe the order excludes young men in their non-age, old men in their dotage, and the crippled, maimed, and deformed, all of which, save the first-named, are peculiarly apt to be needy. Is Masonry willing to help all these needy ones outside of the lodge and outside relationships with lodge members?
Love is good; it is blessed. Love for man is divine. "Man" is a generic term, embracing all men, whatever their condition. Does Masonic love embrace all the race? Does it love those who are its enemies? Or are these the mere formal expression of lodge obligations?
Imperialism and Christian Freedom
The tendency to what is called "imperialism," manifest in overreaching and oppression, is not to be laid at the door of one man or one party. It is a tendency of the times; the weak bend before it; the strong sometimes resist with a counter-imperialism. In the end only the truly Christian will consistently oppose it; and he will withstand its tendencies, its imperiousness, its flatteries, and emoluments, not for himself; he will do it for the sake of others. He is free; and he whom the Son makes free is free indeed. He may be oppressed; he may be enslaved; he may be imprisoned; yet he knows a freedom higher than any civil government on earth can assure or secure him. What the SIGNS OF THE TIMES may say in pointing out this tendency in our own land is not from political considerations, but to show that this nation is fulfilling prophecy, and to warn men of its doom.
A WORLD-WIDE QUESTION.
THE Sabbath question is fast becoming world wide. It faces one in the individual life of every Christian, in ecclesiastical circles, in legislative halls, in courts of justice. Men can not cry it down. It is pre-eminently a Bible question. Here we find the origin and purpose of the Sabbath set forth in clear lines. We find it in no other book. A study of the question is, from every viewpoint, at all times profitable. In order to meet this need, the SIGNS OF THE TIMES will present the question during the present volume in two series of articles, in different aspects. The first series will begin March 28, under the general head “The Origin of Evil and the Change of the Sabbath.” The individual articles will be nineteen in number. The following will show the wide scope of the series, and how emphatically the Sabbath question touches other vital questions:—
The Purpose of God,
Why Sin Was Permitted,
The Father of Lies,
The Mystery of Godliness,
The Fall of Satan,
One-third of the Angels,
Join Lucifer in Rebellion,
Sun-worship and Paganism,
The “Day of the Sun,”
The Sabbath the Sign of God’s
Covenant of Grace,
The Institution of the Sabbath,
Did Christ Change the Sabbath?
Remarkable Prophecies,
A Striking Fulfillment,
The Source of Papal Authority,
“The Times” Changed,
How the Papacy Was Formed,
The New Religion,
The Ancient Apostasy a Type of the
Falling Away in the Church,
The Third Angel’s Message.
Besides the above articles there are several other series, each article independent, which will begin soon. For the six months these articles run the paper is only 50 cents. Why not subscribe for your friend or neighbor?
The Love of the Truth
In the delusions of these last days there is one thing which will ultimately save, and only one, and that is "the love of the truth." And those who receive "not the love of the truth" will yield to the last great delusion, if they do not yield to earlier ones. See 2 Thess. 2:9-12. Knowledge of the theory of the truth will not then save from error; knowledge must be more than form. Neither will a spiritual frame of mind save. Thousands believe they have the Spirit of God, while they are living in utter disobedience to that Word which the Spirit inspired. There is one Voice, which, if we know, will enable us to discern all other voices. That Voice uttered the Ten Commandments from Sinai. That code of laws is eternal. If we know that, if it is written on our heart by the Spirit of God, we shall not be deceived. Every voice not in harmony with that law is false, however dulcet its tones. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
It Is Strikingly True
It Is Strikingly True.—An article in the Saturday Evening Post points out the fact, recently emphasized by Professor Hadley, of Yale, that there is a decided "decline of conviction" among public men. Oratory which moves men has declined. Men "desiring only to subserve in the most direct way the special and local interests confided to them," and to do it as expeditiously as possible, "resort to compromise and adjustment." Of course this will destroy decided conviction, and true eloquence can not live where conviction is wanting. This is especially true in the religious world. What contributed greatly to make Moody the man he was, was his intense conviction and earnestness. There ought to be thousands as earnest as he. Truly it is a sad commentary on religion when but a very few men stand out so prominently as men of earnestness and conviction.
The Age in a Cartoon
The Age in a Cartoon.—A comical sheet, representing more sad truth than humor, portrays as a first scene in their respective studies, five noted men connected with an educational institution; their names, Professor Braynes, chemist; Mr. Voltz, inventor and electrical expert; Professor Nollidge, a writer on biology, zoology, etc.; Mr. Goggles, an erudite editor; and Mr. Diggum, leading authority in international law. The next view is a street scene where these learned men have met to have a little chat. While conversing, a heavy-weighted champion pugilist in loud-checked trousers and red sweater ambles along the street. After him comes a mad crowd of men of all descriptions and all ages, all well dressed, but so intent in overtaking the pugilist that they literally run over and trample down the learned professors as though they were so many mud-turtles or wooden blocks. It is a good illustration of the sport-mad, blood-crazed world to-day. It is headed, "An Up-to-date Social Study." Is it overdrawn?
Articles from Mrs. E. G. White
By Editor
Articles from Mrs. E. G. White.—There are, we believe, no articles on practical godliness and religion more appreciated than those which Mrs. White contributes for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Beginning with our issue of April 18, the following will be printed from week to week till all are given to the world: "Christ and Nicodemus," "Changed into the Same Image," "The Power of the Word in the Life," "At Simon's House," "Ministry" (two articles), "Go Work To-day in My Vineyard" (two articles). These eight articles, contributed alone to the SIGNS, are full of precious Biblical instruction for all Christians.
