The steady increase of gambling, with the steady decrease in the morality and reliability of those who indulge in it, continues to excite apprehension among those who are responsible for the successful conduct of business enterprises. The following editorial from the Christian Work and Evangelist is to the point, and also shows how the law-making body of a great state protects and bolsters up the gambling business:—
It is certain that the betting habit, like that of drink, is coming to be more and more regarded as a disqualification for any service where honesty and faithfulness are prime requisites. In the words of Captain Goddard, "Once a man gets the betting fever in his blood he is not to be trusted." In an interview in the New York Times on this subject, Mr. Henry P. Lyman, President of the American Surety Company, is quoted as saying that twenty-five per cent. of the defalcations of the time are due to race-track gambling. "Every day or so," says Mr. Lyman, "the company is called upon to make good for some young fellow who had bet money that didn't belong to him on horses that lost." Among the recent instances of the ruin wrought by the betting passion, cited by Mr. Lyman, was that of a young bank clerk with a mother and sister dependent upon him. Becoming infatuated with horse-racing, he neglected his work, abstracted money from the bank to the amount of $1,400, and is now serving a term in the penitentiary for his crime. Another case is that of a railroad man, who held a splendid position. He became addicted to9betting on the races, and stole $14,000. He fled to Mexico, but was captured and brought back. He is now serving a term in the penitentiary. Cases parallel to these may be found almost daily in the criminal news of the daily press.
There is something about horse-racing which seems to coarsen and deprave all engaged in it. As conducted on the professional tracks, it is a sport in which deception, fraud, false pretense, and every species of cunning and trickery have been brought to a fine art.
It is probably true, as often averred, that race-tracks can not be maintained without the betting-ring adjuncts. It certainly proved to be so in New Jersey, where a strict and impartial enforcement of the anti-gambling law was followed by the immediate closing of the tracks at Guttenburg, Monmouth Park, and other points in the state. But we do things differently in New York. When the people of the Empire State voted prohibition of pool-selling and other forms of gambling into the state constitution in 1896, a complaisant and ever-ready Legislature, at the bidding of the racing trust, made up of rich horse-owners, politicians and "sports," enacted what is known as the Percy-Gray law, which "took the starch out" of the anti-gambling amendment so far as racing enclosures are concerned, while it left it in full force outside of those enclosures. The result has been the ridiculous, unjust, and outrageous situation which now prevails, wherein it is made a crime punishable by fine and imprisonment to perform an act on one side of a fence which is practically declared innocent on the other.
Such laws are building up a business which can only debase and ruin the bodies and souls of men and women. They make virtual slave marts where men's souls are bartered for gold. With the gambler and the law-maker banded together, we have a conspiracy against morals which must make demons laugh.
"AUTHORIZED" WORSHIP.
A STRANGE theory, indeed, is the idea that the people may not participate in church worship without being specially authorized to do so by some authorized form or ritual prescribed by some authorized body. If a pastor, or other person chosen to conduct a church service, is not authorized to take the congregation into partnership in the worship, and the people can not have a part in the services without the leader's being authorized by some other body to allow them to take part in the exercises of worship, what has become of the liberty of the Gospel? It is certainly an erroneous idea of worship to suppose that a congregation must have a form of words furnished by fallible men before they can engage in orderly, acceptable worship. The present tendency toward liturgical, or formal, worship is pointed out by the Christian Work:—
From time to time the mail brings to our notice the fact that churches here and there are adopting for use the Forms of Worship tentatively presented to the General Assembly last May by Dr. Henry van Dyke's committee, and by it approved. It is by no means surprising that these churches do not consent to wait until the work of that committee is completed, and its recommended forms adopted as well as approved by some future Assembly. The imperative demand of Presbyterianism for some liturgical form, became clear as day when Dr. van Dyke presented his report, showing that some seventy per cent. of Presbyterian churches already use forms of one sort or another, and that ninety-four per cent. of 2,001 Presbyterian ministers who responded to inquiry are on record as of being of opinion that "the people should participate in the service of the sanctuary." This being the case, an authorized liturgy is imperative.
Wherever it becomes recognized as a fact that an "authorized liturgy is imperative" in church worship, it will be an indisputable fact that the true spirit of worship can not be the leading influence in that worship. The strong tendency in that direction on the part of professed Protestants in these last days, of various sects, is the indication of a Romeward march. It all originated in Rome. God has authorized all men to worship Him in spirit and in truth; but He has not authorized any class of men to authorize worshiping bodies to use any special formality to the exclusion of voluntary or varied forms. The assumption of the authority to authorize is an assumption of authority to forbid—to dictate in general. Such a spirit has no place in the Christian church. A form of worship based on human authority is not the worship of the true God. It is a "form of godliness" without the power.
THE TYRANNY OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
It is alleged by certain educated and far-traveled foreigners that after all there is not so much in our boast of independence. They say there is really less of intellectual independence with us than in the other civilized countries of the world. While we are not limited, repressed and oppressed by legal enactments, yet we are under the more potent tyranny of public sentiment. While we are not aided by the opinions of foreign countries, we are in subjection to our own majorities. Is there not a good-sized grain of truth in this charge? Is there not among public men a very noticeable timidity in expressing themselves on the unpopular side of things? Is there not even in religious and denominational affairs a growing intolerance of minorities? Isn't it true that the spirit of the majorities is growing less magnanimous and more domineering? Government by majorities is a fine thing within limitations, but human nature being what it is, majorities are liable to become unreasonable, imperious, and tyrannical. Majorities become dangerous when they ignore, despise, or intimidate minorities. They are dangerous when their attitude toward minorities is such as to make the latter timid and uncomfortable, or sullen and desperate. Often the truth and the right are with the minority.—Exchange.
Effort to Reform the Kongo “Free” State
Effort to Reform the Kongo "Free" State. — A current press item says: "There has been organized in England a movement known as the Kongo Reform Association, which has for its object the securing, for the natives inhabiting the Kongo State, the just and humane treatment which was guaranteed to them under the Berlin and Brussels Act. It is sought to accomplish this by securing the restoration of their rights in land and products of the soil, of which they have been deprived by the Kongo State; also to secure the restoration of just and humane administration of the individual freedom of men, women, and children, of which they have been deprived by oppressive taxation, illegal coercion, and inhumane treatment. The means to be employed to achieve the object are: (1) The distribution of information through the press of the world; (2) by public meetings and lectures; (3) by inviting the influence, interest, and support of all humane persons who will help the cause. The association has for its president the Rt. Hon. Earl Beauchamp, K. C. N. G., and P. D. Morel, Esq., is the secretary."
"WHERE IS MY WANDERING BOY TO-NIGHT?"
ONE evening last week, in company with a competent guide, we took a walk down through the "red light" section of the city. This whole section is built especially for immoral purposes. The buildings are low, and the rooms look to be only about 8x10 feet, built of brick. The rooms, most of them, do not open on the street, but into a court with passage-ways leading through screens from the street into it. In these rooms, several hundred in number, is some mother's daughter selling her body and soul to anybody who will buy. We saw girls from fourteen to perhaps twenty-five years old, of many nationalities and all colors, one to a room, some smoking, some doing some light fancy work, but all half nude, and slaves as they are, offering themselves to every passer-by. We did not, could not, count the number of boys and young men who were crowding in even at this early hour to contribute a part of their week's earnings to the fallen girls. "It is too early," said our guide, "to find many young men and boys here. They come later." But there were a few there, mostly, as we said, boys from fourteen to twenty or twenty-two or three. We saw a few. At a rough estimate we should think we saw in the one hour somewhere from five to seven hundred in all. The back doors of the many saloons open in upon this court, and both boys and girls have easy access to the saloons. Many of these girls, we are told, were procured for, and are kept by, wealthy business and professional men who have wives and families of their own. Some of them, in fact most of them, are beautiful, bright, winsome girls whose appearance would indicate good raising. We heard one exclaim as we passed, "O, my God, I wish I was out of here!" Another answered her, "Don't be a fool." There are more young, bright girls in one small block of this city selling their souls and bodies to the devil than are in the best Sunday-school in this city. And there are no ten Sunday-schools in this city that can count as many boys on their rolls as you can count in one evening in this one block of the city going in with the harlot "as an ox goeth to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks." Mothers, the words of Joel (ch. 3:3) are to-day being fulfilled:—"And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink." You have in this section of the City of Angels the legitimate fruit, the inevitable and always certain results of the ball-room, private dance, dancing-school, and saloon. You can not gather grapes from thorns; and whatsoever a man, a family, a city, or a nation soweth, that shall they also reap.—California Voice, Los Angeles.
PERILOUS TIMES.
THE following by Eugene B. Willard in the Boston Traveler shows how men of the world look upon the threatening conditions of the present day. It is evidently written from the standpoint of the laborer, voices his grievances, and shows the feeling that exists in the hearts of those for whom he speaks toward those whom he and they accuse:—
We can not disguise the fact that we are on the verge of an impending revolution. Old issues are dead. The muttering thunder of sullen discontent grows nearer and nearer every hour. The people are arraying themselves on one side or the other of a portentous contest. On one side is capital, formidably entrenched in privilege, arrogant from continued triumph, conservatively tenacious of old theories, demanding new concessions, enriched by domestic levy and foreign commerce, and struggling to adjust all values to its own gold standard. On the other side is labor asking for justice and employment, striving to develop domestic industries, battling with the forces of nature, and subduing the wilderness; labor, starving and sullen in the cities, resolutely determined to overthrow a system which gives to a few the possession of the natural bounties of the land, to monopolize them under cover of law and custom, a system which gives to a Gould and a Vanderbilt wealth beyond the dreams of avarice, and condemns the poor to poverty from which there is no escape or refuge but the grave. Demands for justice have been met with indifference and disdain. The laborers of the country are treated like impudent mendicants begging for bread. Men are equal, but there is no equality. Suffrage is universal, but political power is exerted by the few. Capital and wealth are favored, while the wage-earners are restrained. The burdens and privileges are unequally borne. Some have wealth beyond the capacity of extravagance to squander, and others pray in vain for daily bread.
Money is abundant; food is plentiful; our resources are gigantic; but, notwithstanding this, the paradox of civilization remains. The majority of the people struggle for existence, and a fraction subsists in abject and wretched penury. In calling attention to this subject it is not our intention to arouse a mere sensation or to seek to gratify idle curiosity; but it is a subject that can not be dismissed by turning on our heel and refusing to listen. The French people thought that once upon a time, but they learned differently, even if this present generation has forgotten the lesson. . . . We may ignore facts, but we can not alter them. There is no doubt that we are on the eve of a revolution. All who have eyes to see and ears to hear must admit this. Only a society submerged in egoism, self-satisfaction, and the hunt for pleasure can deny it; only such a society, together with those that claim divine rights, will continue to dance on the volcano, will refuse to see the "mene tekel" and continue to believe in the power of bayonets.
Temperance Reform in the Churches
Temperance Reform in the Churches.—Three years ago, Rev. J. Q. A. Henry, a Baptist clergyman of note in America, was called to England to carry on a temperance crusade. An article in the Union Signal says that “all over the kingdom the largest halls have been placed at his disposal, and have been thronged with people.” But the following brief extract, while encouraging in results, is really startling as revealing conditions in the professed church of Christ: “The great work accomplished has been in helping to separate the churches from all complicity with the habit and traffic in strong drink. Hundreds of ministers, thousands of church officers, and tens of thousands of church members have been led for Christ and humanity’s sake to give up the habit, sign the pledge, and dedicate themselves to God’s service. Indeed, the chief progress of this reform within the past two or three years has been inside the churches.”
Papal Interest in Cardinal Satolli’s Reception
The pope is said to have expressed himself as highly satisfied with the very cordial reception given in the United States to Cardinal Satolli. He is reported in Catholic papers as saying to his secretary of state, "The American Catholics surpass all my expectations in loyalty to the church." If, as was claimed when Satolli's coming was announced, he came on his own private account, the pope would hardly have been so much concerned about his reception. Satolli is the medium through which papal diplomatic relations with this government are being worked up, and his reception on his periodical visits—by Catholics and government officials—is a matter of special interest to the pope. His experience during his last trip, in both official and church circles, was such as to give a good degree of encouragement to his master.
THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.
WITHIN the week two great naval engagements have taken place between Russian and Japanese fleets. Since the first engagement off Port Arthur, the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo has been waiting outside for the Russian fleet. On August 10, it emerged and attempted to escape. A great battle resulted in which the Russian fleet was terribly battered. All the vessels got away, but in such a condition that most of them will be unable to appear again until after the war. The commander of the Russian fleet was blown to pieces by a Japanese shell, and a number of his officers were killed at the same time. This is the second Russian fleet commander that has perished. On August 14 the Japanese fleet under Vice-Admiral Kamimura encountered the Russian Vladivostok squadron in the Strait of Korea. The result of the encounter was the sinking of the Russian cruiser Rurik. The cruisers Rossia and Gromboi fled toward Vladivostok in a greatly damaged condition. It is felt that this practically disposes of the Russian naval power in the East, and clears the way for the renewal of commerce. It is probable that most, if not all, the officers and men on the Rurik were lost. There was a considerable number of casualties in all four of the squadrons.
The Japanese on land are now turning their chief attention to the capture of Port Arthur. The fall of this fortress would release many thousands of men who would be sent to re-enforce the armies operating against General Kuropatkin. The Japanese breach of Chinese neutrality in capturing a Russian vessel in the harbor of Cheefu is causing much anxiety among the nations.
News from Turkey, Russia, and Switzerland
The American squadron which has been sent East to strengthen Minister Leishman's demands upon the Turkish Government, is now at Smyrna, and is expected to remain there until evidence has been given that Turkey will keep her promises. The sultan has granted the American demands, according to report from Constantinople, promising to American schools the same privileges granted to those of other nationalities. The sultan has temporized so long that the American minister prefers to have the squadron remain in Turkish waters until there is some certainty of the sultan's promises being fulfilled.
That distressing conditions exist in some parts of Russia is shown in the fact that in fifty of the eastern provinces, one-fourth of the children die before they reach the age of one year, and another fourth never reach the age of fifteen. Increasing numbers of recruits from these districts are being rejected because of physical defects; and these and the high infant death-rate are declared to be directly traceable to semi-starvation.
The great Simplon tunnel, connecting Switzerland and northern Europe with Italy, through Milan, has been completed, in so far as to permit of the passage of a work train. The tunnel is twelve and one-half miles long, and the most discouraging engineering difficulties have been overcome in its completion.
The list of the identified dead from the terrible train wreck in Colorado reported last week, now numbers 83. Others are still missing, which, with the unidentified, will bring the number to the first estimate of 100.
A project is now on foot for the reclamation of Upper Egypt and the Soudan by the use of dams and irrigating ditches. The estimated cost of the undertaking is placed at $100,000,000.
AUTUMN.
By A. M. A. Harper
BY MRS. A. M. A. HARPER.
BEYOND the crimsoning autumn hill
The lingering twilight fades to gray,
And feathered choirs flit and trill
Their bye-low songs at close of day.
Above, the bright sky softly shines,
Below, the busy swains are seen
In twilight quest through pumpkin vines
For earth's rich hoards of gold and green.
Beside the tree-enshadowed way
The queenly goldenrod I see,
In graceful mien and garb so gay—
God's beauteous picture wrought for me.
The perfumed zephyrs, soft and sweet,
Are mingling now with autumn's breeze,
And strewn along the fence-bound street
Are rainbow colors from the trees.
Shaftsburg, Mich.
FAVORITISM IN THE HOME.
By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle
BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
I T seems a sad comment upon human depravity—and parental depravity in particular—that it should seem necessary to speak loudly in condemnation of favoritism in the home.
Among the different nations of earth there has always been favoritism from the time it was said unto Canaan: "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren." And so, even tho of one blood, God has made all the inhabitants of the earth, and all are brethren, and children of one Father; still, in the hearts of many professed children of God, there exists a strange and unaccountable feeling of superiority over some of their brethren, solely on account of nationality; and instead of that universal and all-embracing love which alone should find place in the heart of a Christian toward any and all his fellowmen, there is, all too often, a feeling of contempt and scorn. But if favoritism is odious in the sight of our Father when manifested between nations, how must He, who is no respecter of persons, regard the same evil in the home, between parents and children, brothers and sisters? And yet Satan has from the very beginning accused the Almighty of partiality. But the sublime answer comes ringing through the ages: "O house of Israel, are not My ways equal; are not your ways unequal?"
How strange it is that parents will allow themselves to be influenced from a straightforward course of justice and right by some especially favored child,—favored, many times, not on account of the obedience and faithfulness of the child, but solely on account of the little one's attractiveness and beauty, which has taken such a hold on the vain mother's heart, that she finds it almost impossible to refuse a request.
"I know I ought not to have let Minnie go to the party," said an unwise and partial mother, "but she asked to go in such a sweet, cunning way, I just could not refuse her."
"Did you allow Jennie to go, too?"
"Jennie? O no; Jennie never teases me,—and, well—the fact is, she's not the baby, you know. Of course a mother always allows the youngest extra privileges."
Foolish mother!
Maybe we all remember reading the story of two little girls,—children of the same mother. Elsie was petted and idolized, babied and indulged enough almost to insure her ruin,—and solely on account of her superior beauty. The other, Mary, a plain, sensitive little creature, often longed for a little share in the caresses so freely lavished upon her sister. One day after dressing Elsie for a ride—in which poor little Mary had vainly begged to share, the mother heard footsteps pattering down the stairs. Supposing it to be her favorite child, she called pleasantly: "Are you coming, darling?" Her only answer was the sad voice of little Mary, who replied between her sobs:—
"It's not 'darling,' mama; it's only me!"
It is needless to say that the foolish and one-sided mother acknowledged the justice of the rebuke, and, let us hope, profited by it.
A long, long time ago, there lived an old man, his wife, and two sons—twins, tho they looked not at all alike, neither were they alike in disposition and character.
Still, everything would undoubtedly have moved along smoothly enough, had it not been for the weak spirit of favoritism, which, from the very infancy of the boys, had made itself felt in many ways, and upon many occasions. The mother especially favored one of these brothers—the handsome young man who was constantly by her side. The other son, tho probably not as prepossessing in appearance as his brother, still contrived to win the heart of his doting and aged father, not on account of any superior merit, but because he was a "cunning hunter," and his savory dishes which he had learned to prepare, especially appealed to his father's appetite! What a strange reason this seems for the manifestation of favoritism!
But Esau was not only a cunning hunter, but a cunning diplomat as well. He knew his aged father's weakness, and altho he had already foolishly sold his birthright, which had never been duly appreciated by him, still he hoped, by ministering to his father's appetite, to secure the coveted blessing.
One day the father called his favorite; but the mother's ears were open, and she determined that her favorite son—the handsome young man who was her constant companion—should not fall a victim to what she regarded as his brother's selfishness.
"Esau, my son," said the father "Go into the fields and take me some venison; dress it, and make me such a savory dish as you are accustomed to; then I will give you my blessing."
Ah, that is just what Esau wanted. His brother had the birthright, but he should not have the blessing.
Over the hills hurried the young hunter, his heart beating high with ambition, and eager hope. Is he not the one upon whom heaven has bestowed the greatest mark of preference—the highly favored firstborn? Well he knows he is his father's favorite, and well he knows how to appeal to his feelings and prejudices.
We know the come-out of the narrative; we remember, with never-ceasing astonishment the deceit and double-dealing of the foolish mother. But what a sad ending! It is one of the most mournful stories of the Bible,—this story of favoritism. The coveted blessing is obtained, but under what sad circumstances, and at what a cost! Poor mother! as the long, long years went by, how must her heart have yearned for her darling son, whom she is destined never again to see on earth.
Well, is the fruit of favoritism pleasant to the taste?—Nay, verily; and it is no more pleasant today than it was in the days when poor Rebecca tasted it in the bitterness of her soul.
"But" says some mother: "My Fred is getting incorrigible. Positively, I can do nothing at all with him. He has learned to smoke and chew and use profane language,—tho where he learned it all is quite a mystery. Now tobacco is so offensive to me that I can not endure to have the boy around; so I have told him so, and, well—he has gone away from home. I told him if he preferred his tobacco to his home and his mother, he would have to go. Now my other boy, Charlie, is so different. He has no bad habits. It is a pleasure to have the boy around, and always has been. But some way Fred has been the 'black sheep' ever since his childhood, and when he went away, I just told him so. I suppose every family has its black sheep."
What! is it possible that you ever talked to your own son in that way—you, his mother? Ah, I am making a plea for the "black sheep" in the family.
Do you forget that when a young man's own mother turns her back to him with only reproaches, his road to perdition is very short? You would not have him about, because he uses tobacco, which is offensive to your delicate nerves! Woman! do you think tobacco is any more offensive to you than sin of any kind is to your God? And yet He is kind enough to bear with you much longer than you have with poor Fred. How can you draw comparisons between your own sons to the disparagement of one of them? In the day of judgment, I fear you will have to answer to the charge of neglect and favoritism—and all mothers like you—before Him who "maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
WHY ARE MY BOYS DRUNKARDS?
THE above is a question propounded by a distressed mother. She is a good woman, has been a devoted Christian from a child, is a faithful wife and a kind, loving, praying mother. But, alas, she has lived to see her fine-looking, hardy boys grow up and become drunkards.
She has done all she could in the way of kindly admonishing against the seduction of the wine cup, and lovingly warning them of the ruin which the rum-fiend inflicts upon its victims. Many, many hours in the stillness of the night has she spent on her knees, her heart almost broken, pleading with God to save her boys from being ruined by strong drink, only to see them waxing worse and worse. And now, almost in desperation, she asks, “Why are my boys drunkards? Why does not God interpose and save them in answer to my prayer? Does He no longer hear and answer the prayers of His sorrow-stricken children? Is the fault mine? Have I not faithfully done my duty—done all that a fond mother could do to save her boys?”
Alas, for that mother! Our hearts bleed for her and her boys as well. God does hear and answer prayer, but the same God who says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee,” also says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” And He also says that He visits the “iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”
“But,” one asks, “what have those passages to do with this poor, distressed mother’s case?” Only this, she is reaping what she has sowed. Years ago when she was a happy, beautiful, young woman she made the awful mistake made by so many others, of accepting the attention of a young man whom she knew to be given to strong drink, and permitted him to woo and win her. She not only knew that he was in the habit of becoming intoxicated, but she also knew that the appetite for strong drink was a characteristic of his family. Of course, like many another foolish girl, she felt sure she could “reform him.” Her parents and friends warned her, but despite their admonitions and protestations she would have her own way, and gave herself to be the wife of a drunken husband, and in so doing doomed herself to be the sorrowing mother of drunken sons.
She sowed the wind and is reaping the whirlwind! She set in motion a cause, and now because He who is the author of the law of cause and effect does not think it wise to interpose miraculously and in answer to her prayer suspend that law and change the inherited nature, the boys, on whom she decided to inflict an unnatural appetite for strong drink by marrying a man given to the use of intoxicating liquors, are going the way of the drunkard! It is an awful case, but “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
This sad case is only one of many, and is given to be a warning to our young lady readers. Dear girls, if you would avoid a similar sorrow, pray now to be saved from marrying men addicted to strong drink. It is the only effectual way to pray for deliverance from the sorrow which the poor woman whose case is described above, suffers. To pray11after the boys begotten of a drunken father have fallen into the same habit of drinking, is too late. We will not say that they can not and will not be saved from a drunkard’s hell, but experience teaches that, as a rule, such are not saved from the inherited appetite for strong drink; and when, in addition, they are exposed to the seductive influences of the open saloon and the society of those who drink, how are they to escape? There are ten thousand wives and mothers in this country to-day whose hearts are broken and whose homes are but hovels of want, violence, and sorrow, simply because they, lured by the hope that they could reform them, married men who they knew were given to tampering with the drunkard-making beverage. They mourn and suffer and pray, but the adamantine law of cause and effect holds, and as in the case of Esau, their repentance and tears are of no avail in so far as undoing what they have done is concerned. They are only reaping what they sowed, and thereby verifying the truth that “God is not mocked.”—Religious Telescope.
LESSON XI.—SATAN BOUND.
(Study for Sabbath, September 10.)
QUESTIONS.
1. Whom did the Revelator see come down from heaven? What did he have in his hand? Rev. 20:1. Note 1.
2. What did the angel do? How long was Satan bound? Verse 2. Note 2.
3. Where is Satan confined? What is placed upon him? How long is his work of deception interrupted? What then takes place? How long is he to be loosed? Verse 3. Note 3.
5. Who only are raised at His coming? Rev. 20:6.—The righteous. The "dead in Christ." The "blessed and holy."
6. What change takes place in the living righteous? 1 Cor. 15:51-54.
7. After the "change," what then takes place? 1 Thess. 4:17.
8. Where are they next seen? Upon what are they seated? Rev. 20:4.
9. Who will be judged during this time? 1 Cor. 6:2, 3. Note 4.
10. What happens to the wicked when Jesus comes? 2 Thess. 2:7-9.
11. To what condition will the earth be brought? Jer. 4:23-27. Note 5.
12. What occurs when the 1,000 years are finished? Who only have a part in the first resurrection? Who only have a part in the "second" resurrection? How long a period of time intervenes between these two resurrections? Rev. 20:5, 6.
13. What descends from heaven at the close of the 1,000 years? Rev. 21:2.
14. What release does the raising of the wicked dead bring to Satan? Rev. 20:7.—He then has subjects to work upon.
15. What will he do? How many subjects has he? For what purpose does he gather them? Verse 8.
16. Where do they go? What is this camp called? What puts an end to the struggle? Verses 9, 10. Note 6.
17. For whom was this lake of fire prepared? Matt. 25:41.
18. How complete will be their destruction? Mal. 4:1, 3.
20. How will the fire that consumes the wicked affect the earth? 2 Peter 3:10-13.
NOTES.
1. The word here translated "bottomless pit" is in the Revised Version, Rotherham's Translation, Interlinear, etc., properly translated "abyss," meaning a place of darkness and desolation. A like expression is found in Gen. 1:2, the Septuagint, where the term, "darkness was upon the face of the deep," is used to describe the earth in its chaotic condition. It denotes the same here.
2. Just as the scapegoat in the typical service connected with the earthly sanctuary was led into the wilderness, laden with the sins of the people placed upon him by the high priest on the day of atonement, so, at the close of the judgment work in the heavenly sanctuary, the sins of God's people will be placed by our great High Priest upon the anti-typical scapegoat, Satan.
3. Lucifer, because of sin, was cast out of heaven. Luke 10:18. When Jesus died on the cross, Satan was again cast down (John 12:31), the Second Adam taking the exalted position in the council of heaven, which the first Adam lost through transgression. Now with the saints all in heaven, beyond the reach of his temptations, his own subjects all dead, and every ambition of his soul blasted, an angel seizes this fallen cherub, and binds him in the desolated earth for a thousand years. What a striking object-lesson of the vanity of sin!
4. This judgment will not be to determine who are the righteous, for this has previously been determined, but it will consist in apportioning the measure of punishment due to the lost. There will be degrees in the reward of the lost (Matt. 10:15; 11:24; Mark 6:11), for all will be rewarded according as their works have been. This work will bring to light the hidden things, and the justice and mercy of God will be fully seen in all His dealings with the children of men.
5. No more fitting term than "abyss," or "bottomless pit," could be found to describe the earth in its desolate condition. Here will be Satan's home for a thousand years. All about him he will see only failure and ruin.
"Here is to be the home of Satan and his angels for a thousand years. Here he will be confined, to wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth, and see the effects of his rebellion against God's law. For a thousand years he can enjoy the fruit of the curse which he has caused. Limited alone to this earth, he will not have the privilege of ranging to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not fallen."—Early Writings, page 150.
6. The countless millions of the wicked dead being raised will loose Satan from his prison, and he begins his former work of deception. He gathers them for battle, and they surround the capital of the New Earth in a desperate and final struggle to capture the city. This once will the whole family of Adam, both righteous and wicked, stand together on the earth. But what a contrast! We are now making decisions which will determine where they will then stand.