THE INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19443, 31 March 1925, Page 5

THE INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE

An interesting address was given by Pastor J. W. Kent at the Empire Theatre on Sunday night on the subject of "The Wonderful Increase of Knowledge—A Last Day Token.” People nowadays, said the speaker, in beholding the marvellous inventions of science, wet» losing the sense of surprise. Nothing surprised us to-day, and the most wonderful devices were taken as a matter of course. He pointed out that people of 100 years ago knew nothing of the modern wonders and faciilties which wo considered indispensable comforts in the home and tho workshop, as well as in travel. These things were the product of our own day and age. This had its message for us to day if we would only listen. In Daniel xii, 4, we read: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the cud; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” According to this prophecy, it was at the time of the end. when the second coining of Christ was at ’ hand, that all this wonderful increase in knowledge was to be seen. Such a wonderful display of knowledge, crowding as it did our own ago to the exclusion of all other ages of the past, ought to make us think. Along with other evidences, the increase of knowledge was thus a sign of the approaching end. Then, side by side with this, the prophet said: “Many shall run to and fro.” This was to bo at tho same time, “the time of the end.” The speaker said that which ever way wo, took that verso the. evidences of its fulfilment in our day could not be successfully controverted. People, indeed, wore “running to and fro,” just as the prophecy indicated. The facilities for travel around the world were always crowded these days. The increase of knowledge had made such travel possible. ■ Both were associated in the verse as a sign of our times. From the steam boat and train to the motor car and airplane, all were tho products of qjir time, and our grandparents knew little or nothing of them. People might set this prophecy aside as a mere coincidence, while others might see nothing in it at all. While it was given to no one to know the day and hour of Christ’s coming, yet agreeable to His own words, we might know when it was near by the evidence of fulfilling prophecy.