Golden age

 Many Christians too, seem to be content with expecting the world to be pervaded by the principles of Christianity, making little or no account of Christ's coming and the resurrection and the new earth. Their "golden age" for the world is made such, at best, by the prevalence of moral and religious truth. They speak as if the kingdom of Christ were a mere figure for the moral influence of his religion, and not as literal an account as can be given of a state or commonwealth having Christ at its head, whose utmost prosperity must therefore be in his person and presence. ARSH January 28, 1862, page 67.7

Thus many are looking for what will never come,-a "golden age" before the end of the world, a millennium of peace. They would better be preparing for the "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation" (Daniel 12:1), for that is what is coming. Thousands read the prophecy in Isaiah 2 and Micah 4 about swords and ploughshares so carelessly as to misread it altogether. This is what the people say; but God says exactly the opposite. See Joel 3:9, 10. Thus Paul wrote, "When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them." 1 Thessalonians 5:3. It is not peace, but war that awaits the world; not a golden age, but a time of trouble. PTUK July 16,  1896, page 452.4

These things are looked upon by very many, as sure tokens of future good; forerunners of a bright, golden age, when all will be converted from sin to holiness, which some vainly think already dawning. And know not that the day of vengeance hasteth greatly, and that these things are foretold signs of the coming of the Son of man, plainly fulfilled before their eyes. ST1853 24.2

The ears of the people are filled with the pleasing fables of the world's conversion, a good time coming, and that we are just entering the golden age. The threatenings of God's word on the proud, the haughty, the vain, the rich, the sinners in Zion, and those out of Zion, are kept back by the false teachers these times. Many of them even dare to teach that the moral code of the ten commandments is abrogated. EMTF 21.5

The prophets describe the last days as dreadful in the extreme. Jesus declares them like those of Noah and of Lot. Paul says they will be perilous, and that in them many will depart from the faith. The doctrine of human progress to a state of perfection and holiness, as held all the way from the most prudent, down to the extravagant Spiritualist — that the golden age is soon to open — we regard as Satan's master-piece to bring the mind of the Christian world into an unprepared state to meet the impending dreadful crisis, described by the prophet Joel. — ARSH September 23, 1862, page 132.16

Thousands are deceiving and being deceived by the delusive dream that the millennial day is softly stealing upon our world, and there shall be the much-talked-of golden age. Alas! for such! Between our time and that future glory of Messiah's reign there lies a region as dark as midnight, strewed with such ruined hopes and blasting terrors as this world has never known-such a time of plagues and tribulation as never was, when all hopes based on finite good shall utterly perish, with all those who have deceived themselves thereby. ARSH January 5, 1864, page 42.1

The world's conversion, and a thousand years of peace and holiness before the second coming of Christ. Those who cherish this hope, look for its consummation in the seventh Millennium, in the last days. But have the prophets, Christ and apostles, spoken of the last days as a period of peace, prosperity and holiness? Nay, verily. The prophets speak of the last days as a period that waiteth for the wrath and fierce anger of the Lord to "lay the land desolate, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it." Christ declares that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at his coming; that the wheat and tares should grow together until the harvest, and that the harvest is the end of the world. The apostles speak in harmony with the prophets and Christ. Says Paul, "In the last days perilous times shall come;" etc. 2 Timothy 3:1-8. Compare his description of the last days, with the picture of the good days to come, the golden age now opening before us, held forth from the pulpit and the religious press, and it will be seen that the popular churches are deceived by a false hope. Their ears are turned from the truth unto a pleasing fable. ARSH December 11, 1855, page 85.11

The time of trouble spoken of by both Daniel and our Saviour, is actually upon us. "Like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt," so it is now with the troubled masses. "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." This is now the moral phase of society, and precisely our prophetic whereabouts in the church, our nation, and the world at large. The church is in exile, weeping and praying, "even so, come Lord Jesus." While the latter-day "scoffers" in derision are saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?" thousands are "deceiving and being deceived" by the delusive dream that the millennial day is softly stealing upon our world, and there shall be the much talked of golden age. Alas for such! Between our time and that future glory of Messiah's reign there lies a region as dark as midnight, strewed with such ruined hopes and blasting terrors as this world has never known - a time of plagues and tribulation as never was, when all hopes except those based on the truth shall utterly perish, with all those who have deceived themselves thereby. ARSH July 22, 1862, page 58.21

The professed Christian church, wedded to worldly governments, declaring virtually by precept and practice their corrupt union, and that they have no king but Caesar, looking and hoping that human governments will bring about peace and prosperity to the nations, and the good time coming, and a golden age of millennial blessedness, without her Lord—lukewarm in respect to her love for the appearing of the King-cold and formal in her religion-making the house of prayer a house of merchandise-and in love with the present world-knowing that if her Lord does come, he will disfranchise her from human governments, sever the cord that binds church and state, and destroy all the kingdoms of the nations; knowing that when the king does appear he will separate between the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares; knowing that when he shall come he will overturn the money changers, and drive from his temple all buyers, and sellers, and lovers of the world; and finally, that those that love not his appearing, but are saying, "The Lord delayeth his coming," shall have their portion in the burning lake; aware of this fact, any intelligence that his coming is near at hand is unwelcome news-exciting alarm and hate. Their hearts fail them for fear, which will increase to consternation at his advent. ARSH May 30, 1865, page 201.18

The scriptures plainly teach that man is to become more and more corrupt, and ripen for the day of wrath as that wrath approaches. Look at the metallic Image of Daniel second chapter, given to illustrate the four universal kingdoms, preceding God's everlasting kingdom. Why was not the head of clay and iron, its breast and arms of brass, its belly and sides of silver, and its legs and feet of gold? It would then much better illustrate the view of many that the world has been growing better, and that even now we are entering the golden age. Those who talk of this being the golden age, have this Image turned topsy-turvy, standing on its golden head. But let it stand up on its feet, and the diminution of the value of metal from head to feet, is a fit emblem of the gradual apostasy of man since he left Eden. ST1853 25.1