In this hurried age brief things are appreciated. That is one reason why this work on the prophecies of Daniel, by Elder M. H. Brown, is such a popular one. Beginning with the captivity of Judah, we have the following chapter titles:
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Nebuchadnezzar's Golden Image
Nebuchadnezzar's Proclamation
The Writing on the Wall
The World's History Outlined
Another Line of Prophecy
The Time Explained
Daniel's Last Vision
A Literal Prophecy and
The Time of the End
Fully illustrated with charts and diagrams. 96 pages, price 10 cents.
Only a Spark
A PARTY of young men were on a mountain trip. With their guide they entered the crater of a semi-active volcano, and descended among the lava rocks to the lowest point that was considered safe. As they stood there, gazing down upon rocks which looked just as secure as those on which they were standing, one adventurous young man decided to go farther down. His companions and the guide urged that it was dangerous, but to no avail. He was not afraid, and insisted on satisfying his curiosity. Everything looked safe enough, so, fastening a rope about him, he lowered himself to the rocks below. Held by the rope, he gazed into the black depths of the earth. He had not seen that where the rope passed over the rocks, a spark, small at first, but soon turned into a tiny blaze, was eating the rope, strand by strand. He could not see it; those above could not see it; but it was surely doing its work. The rope gave way—it parted—and the young man was instantly hurled into the depths.
What a price to pay for disregarding counsel!
We shudder to think of it, but are inclined to say, “He was warned.” Let us examine ourselves. Is there a parallel in our lives? Has not our Guide counseled us many times? Do we ever descend into the crater of sin against His will? Is there ever a little spark of selfishness in our hearts that may be fanned into a blaze and hurl us into eternity? Shall we heed the counsel, or pay the price?—New Zealand Christian Herald.
As the Year Closes
By Editor
And the new year is ushered in, what would be more appropriate than to let the mind dwell for a time on the great world movements, those that affect the nations—what they are and their significance?
People should have the privilege of studying these great events of the day in the light of prophecy as they appear in the January “Signs of the Times” magazine, just out. Some of its articles are:
“China in the Light of Prophecy,” by the editor. Mentioned in the Bible years ago. Brought to our attention now. Worthy of serious thought.
“The Future of Europe—What Is It?” by A. O. Tait. Outlined completely in the Scriptures, even to its closing acts. A picture of the future, that you can depend upon.
“The Monster—War: Its Genesis,” by M. C. Wilcox. 1911 had its wars, 1912 bids fair for its share. How long will this continue? What is the reason of it? A good square look at the situation.
“The Coming Great Political Struggle.” An absorbing topic. Can we expect a change for the better? What says the Word? The Christian’s hope.
“The Influence of the United States.” The leading world power. The reasons for this. What is her place in the history of the world?
“Glimpses of China,” by our correspondent F. E. Stafford. The first of a series of unusually interesting and beautifully illustrated articles.
“Some Sabbath Questions Answered,” by T. E. Bowen.
“The French Revolution Foretold in Prophecy,” by Mrs. E. G. White. The first of two articles, explaining this wonderful prophecy.
Three strong articles on Bible doctrines, and a number of others. Good current topics. Well illustrated.
This is truly the most timely number of the “Signs” that has appeared for months.
Sample copy 10 cents in coin or stamps. Address Mountain View, California.
Other Choice Books
In sending for the above-mentioned pamphlet, you may wish to include in your request copies of some of the following:
Christ Our Advocate
A comprehensive study of the sanctuary question. 112 pages, price 10 cents.
The Lord’s Day
A study of the Sabbath question in the light of the dispensations. 125 pages, price 10 cents.
The Saints’ Inheritance
A beautiful study on the home of the saved. 88 pages, price 10 cents.
The Spirit World and a Future Life
Is there a supernatural power being manifested by certain mediums, or is it all fraud? If it is genuine, what is its source? 96 pages, price 10 cents.
Matthew Twenty-four
Christ's answer to the disciples' question, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" and the history connected with the fulfilment of this prophecy. 94 pages, price 10 cents.
Order through your tract society, or
Pacific Press Publishing Assn.
Mountain View, Cal.
61 Park St. No. 1109 E. 12th St. Portland, Ore. Kansas City, Mo. Box 1599, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The Path to Success
THE true, plain path is here — well-doing. Not brilliant doing, but well-doing. Doing the work of life with a willing mind, a loving heart, with both hands, earnestly — diligence in getting good, being good, doing good. In this world, all the grand prizes go to a few brilliant people. . . . But what a blessing it is to us, the dim million, to know that God recognizes patient merit, and that the grandest prizes of all are not kept for the brilliant, but for the faithful. Let us be content with our place and work, however coarse and common. . . . But let us feed our souls with high beliefs and hopes. Let us talk to ourselves all the day long about glory, honor, immortality, eternal life; so shall our path of life, however lonely, be a royal pathway, brighter and brighter to a perfect day.—Anon.
Lost Time Never Found
“Lost time is never found again.”
Faithfulness in Little Things
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.”
Ripe Olives
Large 50 gal. bbls., at 50 cents; 25 gal., 60 cents; 5 gal., 70 cents. Medium size or green, 10 cents less per gal. Smaller, 20 cents less. All excellent quality and fully guaranteed. F. O. B. Chico. Address A. E. Crist, Chico, California.
Emmanuel Children's Home Catalog
The Emmanuel Children's Home, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, has added a self-supporting department, and will gladly send a beautiful catalog and colored circulars describing and showing over one hundred and eighty Scriptural text wall cards and mottoes retailing at from 5 cents to 25 cents each. Be sure and send your address at once before Christmas. Their line will please every one.
“Story of Pitcairn Island.”—By Rosalind Amelia Young, a native daughter.
By Editor
Pitcairn Island, one of the volcanic gems of the Pacific, has been heard of wherever the English language has been spoken. The story of the working out of the problem of human life on its limited territory reads stranger and more thrilling in many respects than a romance. But most, if not all, of the tales told and the books printed have been too fragmentary, or incorrect and misleading. It will be interesting to the friends of that miniature world to know that an authentic history has been written, and that by a native of the island, one to the manor born.
Miss Rosa Young is one of the direct descendants of the mutineers of the Bounty. The book is a plain, unvarnished tale of Pitcairn and its inhabitants from its settlement to the year 1894. It is written with charming simplicity of style, which refreshes the reader and invites continued perusal. Illustrated with 26 engravings. Fourth edition, with appendix. Cloth, $1.00. Address this office.
The Ten Commandments
By Editor
The Ten Commandments.—We have a beautiful four-page folder, tastily printed in blue and gold on tinted cardboard, giving the Commandments as found in the Authorized Version. This attractive little folder makes a very desirable gift for birthday or Sabbath-school class. Price, postpaid, 5 cents. Address this office.
HOME
By Editor
"Among the most expressive and beautiful words of the English language is the noble, tender term 'Home.' Among the sweetest songs ever sung by loving lips is 'Home, Sweet Home,' given to a needy world by one who never had a home, yet whose heart ever cried out for what the world never gave him. His very homelessness voiced sweeter and deeper the longing of every human heart."—Foreword from "Heralds of the Morning."
"HOME, SWEET HOME"
This "longing of every true human heart" is but partially satisfied by an earthly home, however complete its appointment may be. It looks beyond the few years of this life to the "home eternal." It is of this home that Elder J. N. Loughborough speaks in his booklet,
The Saints' Inheritance
Somehow the reality and beauty of our future home grow on one as he reads this little work. New sixth edition, 88 pages, price 10 cents, post-paid.
Other Choice Books
In sending for the above-mentioned pamphlet, you may wish to include in your request copies of some of the following:
Christ Our Advocate
A comprehensive study of the sanctuary question. 112 pages, price 10 cents.
The Lord's Day
A study of the Sabbath question in the light of the dispensations. 125 pages, price 10c.
Matthew Twenty-four
Christ's answer to the disciples' question, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" and the history connected with the fulfilment of this prophecy. 94 pages, price 10 cents.
The Sure Word of Prophecy
A verse-by-verse study of the book of Daniel. 96 pages, price 10 cents.
Christian Science
A consideration of this "science" in the light of reason and revelation. 50 pages, price 10 cents.
The Spirit World and a Future Life
Is there a supernatural power being manifested by certain mediums, or is it all fraud? If it is genuine, what is its source? 96 pages, price 10 cents.
Three
Gospel Stories
"How Esther Read Her Bible." How Mrs. Leigh, the wife of a popular minister, is made to see new truths in the Bible through the aid of a little orphan Indian girl. Among the subjects which puzzled little Esther, and which she brought to Mrs. Leigh, were Baptism, the Sabbath, the State of the Dead, and the Millennium.
Eight well-filled pages. Price 50 cents a hundred, post-paid.
From "How Esther Read Her Bible"
"The Winning of Margaret." Margaret and Grandma, having become much exercised over conditions in the world, endeavored to study their meaning by the aid of the Bible. How they were led to see these conditions as signs of the times is an intensely interesting story.
Sixteen pages. One dollar a hundred, post-paid.
"Back to the 'Old Paths.'" An honest old farmer, Bartholomew Biggs, and his experience at a tent-meeting. A true experience.
Sixteen pages. Price, one dollar a hundred, post-paid.
Order through your tract society, or
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Mountain View, Cal.
61 Park St. N., Portland, Oregon
1109 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Box 1599, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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China, Chinese, Missionary Work
China, Chinese, Missionary Work.—Tuesday evening, November 21, Pastor Irwin H. Evans, director of our missionary work in China, Japan, and Korea, spoke in Mountain View, leaving the next day on a steamer for the Far East. He eulogized the Chinese race for their mentality, their respect for learning, their endurance, their industry, their patience and long-suffering under hardship. He outlined the wretched financial system, which brings colossal wealth to the bankers and great hardship to the people. While he did not speak upon the revolution, the logic of his talk clearly demonstrated that some change is needed. He especially dwelt upon the hopeful side of missions and the favorable openings which are now presented. The missionaries have no difficulty in securing an audience, always attentive and respectful. He told of many who had accepted the truth of the Gospel through reading and the example and influence of natives. He gave an account of a revival among the heathen, in which souls were exhorted to come forward and seek God. And they came tremblingly, broken-hearted. Ten, twenty, forty, sixty, at different times came forward seeking God. They were meetings of great power. As showing the faithfulness of the natives, he cited one young man who received five hundred lashes and was left for dead, but friends nursed him back to life, and he is now an earnest Christian worker. A woman faced death itself rather than disobey God. Chinese Sabbath-keepers are devoted, earnest, self-sacrificing Christians.
Death Is Dreadful
“Death Is Dreadful.”—A late book seems to be devoted to the teaching that death is a good thing. One of its characters speaks of the passing away of a deacon, and says, “Poor Deacon Everett is dead.” Another asks: “Why do you say, ‘poor man’? Do you think he has gone to hell? . . . You surely believe he has gone to heaven, don’t you?” And the reply is, “Why, of course I do; but death is dreadful, no matter how you look at it.” And then the questioner asks: “Is it religious to think it dreadful? If it is, what is the use of religion?” And so on the conversation goes. The whole idea is carried that the Bible teaches that the one who dies goes to a place of punishment or reward at death—a doctrine which is utterly foreign to the Word of God and the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Death is a dreadful thing, no matter how you look at it.” The instinct of one’s nature is more than all false theology that has been taught through the centuries. Since the first lie told in Eden, the devil has endeavored to induce man to believe that he (man) is immortal; but the whole history of the world, the instinct of the race, the habiliments of mourning—in fact, all connected with death, except the belief of a few half-insane devotees—are strong confirmation of the truth of the Bible that death is cessation of existence. The Bible makes the devil responsible for death (Heb. 2:14), for death came in consequence of sin. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15.
And this death the Bible clearly calls an enemy: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” 1 Cor. 15:26. This will be at Christ’s second coming. We have no intimation that there should be no mourning in connection with it. Jesus Himself, looking down through the ages, in sympathy with humanity wept at the grave of Lazarus; and the blessed assurance to the Christian is that in that new earth, created by the power of God, which will be filled by beings new created, or changed to immortality, by the same power, “There shall be no more death.” See Rev. 21:1-7. It is a great deal better to trust the Bible than to depend on the vagaries of fiction, the utterly false conclusions of human philosophy, the perversions of a false theology, or the unscriptural teachings of “hymnology.” Of course if the unscriptural theory of the immortality of the soul is true, persons ought to look on the death of the good as a real joy; but the instincts of humanity and truth are against it.
Contained in This Issue
By Editor
Question Corner
PAGE
3616—The Heathen and the Law; 3617—The Bread and the Wine; 3618—The United States Not a Christian Nation; 3619—Cruelty of David; 3620—Bible Games; 3621—Rag-Time Music
2
| Our Bible Band | 2 |
| General | |
| Lowliness and Godly Sorrow | 3 |
| Christian Science—As a Therapeutic Agency | 4 |
| Studies in Daniel—The Results of Two Systems of Education | 6 |
| Christian Patriotism | 7 |
| What Christ's Coming Means to the Earth | 8 |
| Our Bible Reading | |
| His Coming Literal, Personal, Visible | 7 |
| Present World Movements in Prophecy | |
| The Hunger and Thirst for World Empire | 9 |
| The Outlook | |
| Our London Letter | 10 |
| The Johnston Sunday Bill—No. 3 | 12 |
| Notes | 11, 16 |
| Home and Fireside | |
| Cords | 13 |
| No Secrets from Mother | 13 |
| Poetry | |
| What Is the Book to You? | 5 |
| The Kingdom of Heaven Within | 8 |
| A Debtor | 13 |
Dimbleby's Books
By Editor
Dimbleby's Books.—We now can supply a limited number of the following books by J. B. Dimbleby: "All Past Time," "The Historical Bible," and "Date of Creation." The price of the last two is $1.15. "All Past Time" is $1.00. This includes postage. We are selling them absolutely without profit. The first come will be first served.
The Personal God
By Editor
The tendency of theology of the present time is to remove from mankind the idea of the Fatherhood of God. God is not a person, but a great indefinite something pervading all nature, everywhere in general and nowhere in particular. A noble friend, a scientist, said to us the other day, "I do not think of God as being anywhere." We asked him this question, "Do you know of any manifestation of energy, or force, or power, which does not proceed from some center, some source?" Of course he could only say that he did not; that there must be a center somewhere. With God is the fountain of life and energy. And the great omnipresent God is somewhere as He is nowhere else. He is the personal God—a loving Father.
Seventh-day Adventists in Russia
The Russian government has recently issued a book of 101 pages which describes and gives a history of Seventh-day Adventists from 1844 to 1911. It contains the following: "The Seventh-day Adventists in Russia show a splendid, live, and active work. The movement continues to take in new districts in the European and Asiatic Russians. They reveal a determinate zeal in their missionary efforts to win souls. The whole organization is primarily a missionary one. Every church-member must help forward the third angel's message, and be a witness for Christ." Then why should such a people be persecuted or prosecuted?
Our Bible Band
By Editor
We would like to urge upon all our readers who would like to go in company with others in reading the Bible, to join Our Bible Band. We take only about one half of the Bible this year. In most cases it means but one chapter a day. But a few more than one half of the 1,189 chapters of the Bible are included in the schedule for 1912, and among these are the many short psalms.
We have omitted chapters dealing with detailed incidents, not affecting the narrative, genealogical records, many ceremonial laws, duplicate records, and many books beside. Yet the readings cover the whole scope of Bible history practically.
Send five cents for the new schedule. Or if you wish the pamphlet which we issued last year, containing a schedule for the year's reading, and our new schedule for 1912, a new cover and calendar, send us ten cents.
The little pamphlet contains a mine of information on Bible facts.
In our comments in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES we shall endeavor to help our readers to preserve connections and keep their bearings in all variations in the schedule. If you have the pamphlet and wish the shorter course, send only 5 cents for the schedule. If you do not have the pamphlet, we should advise you to send for that and obtain both schedules, calendar, and a compendium of information regarding the Bible. Please act quickly.
Uneasy Lies the Head
Who longs to be the czar of all the Russias? His is a veritable demonstration of the truth of the saying, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." The enemies of the Russian autocracy, or oligarchy, have disguised bombs as apples among the fruits on his table; they have placed dynamite under his dining-room to explode as he ate; a gardener was shot by hidden, secret police as he was handing the czar a poisoned flower; his niece was killed by eating a poisoned pie intended for him; poison has been placed in his food between the kitchen and the table where he ate; a bomb exploded on his yacht at sea; germs of typhus fever were placed in the wells of the Livadia palace; and the last attempt made public is the letting loose of rats infected with bubonic plague in the imperial palace. Thus desperate are the "terrorists." Better a thousand times the peasant at peace with mankind, and having food and raiment. Infinitely better is the humblest soul with steadfast hope in Christ.
Turkey and Italy
Turkey and Italy.—The military party in Turkey are threatening revolution against the Young Turk government. They believe the war ought to be prosecuted with more vigor. A Turkish general, in a published article, quoted by the Literary Digest of November 25, says: "It is for us Ottomans to choose. If we allow the Young Turks to continue in power, we shall lose Turkey in Europe, Eastern Asia Minor, and all the countries of the Arabs. There can be no escape from this." In the meantime, in Italy the government is not finding much comfort in the strong feeling among the people against the attack on Tripoli.
War and Revolution in China
By Editor
The latest news from China is that the imperial troops have retaken Hanyang, and that negotiations are in progress between the opposing forces in the Hupeh province. On the other hand the revolutionists have forced the gates of Nanking and entered the city. Yuan Shi Kai is all-powerful in the government, and is greatly feared by the revolutionists, and he may turn the scale. We hope, for the sake of humanity and the cause of Christ, the war will soon be over.
Socialistic Gains
By Editor
Socialistic Gains.—It is reported that the Socialist deputies in the German Reichstag will be increased at the coming election from 50 in 359 to 150. This will give it a commanding position in that body. And Socialists are losing nowhere so far as we can see.
Against Lynching
By Editor
We are glad that the governor of South Carolina, in his sympathy with lynch law in certain cases, does not represent the Southern States. We prefer to think that the rest of them believe in due course of law and a fair trial whatever be the color of a man.
