The Profits of Religion, Fifth EditionSinclair, Upton
Religion
The Profits of Religion, Fifth Edition
Sinclair, Upton
Christianity -- Controversial literature
This far western country swarms with those fanatics who await the
return of Christ, and find in Bible chronology positive evidence that
he is coming on a specified day. Seldom do I give a lecture on
Socialism that some eager old lady does not come up to me and point
out how futile are my hopes, because the Millenium will come before
the Revolution. Several times I have come on an item in the
newspapers, telling of a group of people, sometimes whole villages,
selling their goods and going out into the fields to shout and sing
and pray, expecting the vision of the Lord and His Angels in the
skies. I have in my hand a pamphlet entitled "Shekineh: The Glory of
God in Israel, Facts Mathematically Foretold, of the Soon Coming of
Our Blessed Lord." It is earnestly, yearningly written, in that spirit
of feeble-minded affectionateness which the Bible-sects seem to
encourage:
Now dear reader you see that these problems tell a wonderful
story which I know are the Eternal Truths of God. Jesus is
soon coming. I believe that from now on we can say, next;
week perhaps our blessed Lord will return. Yet the time may
not end till the close of the A.M. year, which will be March
20th, 1897. But let us take up the sickle of God, etc. Oh,
my Christian friends, live near the Blessed Christ, and gain
eternal life through Jesus Our Lord!
In the public library I find another pamphlet, entitled "The Our
Race," which proves that the "lost ten tribes of Israel" are not the
American Indians, but the Irish! And here is a publication of the
"Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society," declaring:
The great pyramid in Egypt is a witness to all the events of
the ages and of our day. The pyramid's downward passage
under "a Draconis" symbolizes the course of Sin. Its first
ascending passage symbolizes the Jewish Age. Its Grand
Gallery symbolizes the Gospel Age. Its upper step symbolizes
the approaching period of tribulation and anarchy,
"Judgment" upon Christendom.
It is a Sunday morning, and I sit in the California sunshine revising
this manuscript, when a decorous-looking young man approaches, having
a sack over his shoulder. "From the Bible-students," he says politely,
and hands me a little paper, "The Bible Students' Monthly: an
Independent, Unsectarian Religious Newspaper, Specially devoted to the
Forwarding of the Lay-men's Home Missionary Movement for the Glory of
God and Good of Humanity." The leading article is headed "The Fall of
Babylon: Ancient Babylon a Type--Mystic Babylon the Antitype: Why
Christendom must Suffer--the Final Outcome." A note explains:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account