Is it All Growing Worse and Worse?

“David was not a believer in the theory that the world will grow worse and worse, and that the dispensation will wind up with general darkness and idolatry. Earth’s sun is to go down amid tenfold night if some of our prophetic brethren are to be believed. Not so do we expect, but we look for a day when the dwellers in all lands shall learn righteousness, shall trust in the Savior, shall worship Thee alone, O God, and shall glorify Thy name. The modern notion has greatly damped the zeal of the Church for missions, and the sooner it is shown to be unscriptural the better for the cause of God. It neither consorts with prophecy, honors God, nor inspires the Church with ardour. Far hence be it driven.”

-- Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), from his book The Treasury of David (1874) exposition of Psalm 86.9, “All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name.”