In childhood we were taught that one who implicitly believed the teachings of the Bible, and who, on the strength of that belief, and by the Spirit contained in that Word, had accepted of the Saviour there revealed, as there revealed, was a Christian. How is it to-day?
That the name “Christian” is becoming more and more elastic, covering about all the wrong-doing and wrong-teaching that is found in the outside world, is evident to any person who, laying prejudice aside, will express an honest conviction. It is self-evident. Really, the result could not be otherwise as we see the attitude taken by many — perhaps a majority — of the speakers and writers. The Bible as a book of veracity and inspiration, the great and only source of a revealed Christian standard of morality, is attacked by professed Christian teachers.
Creation as a Bible Doctrine
The creation, as taught in the Bible, through which we become acquainted with the works of God, and through His works, with Himself as God (Jer. 10:10-12), is questioned or openly denied. The reaping must come according to the seed sown. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps. 11:3) is the question asked by the Holy Spirit.
To prove that the above statements are not misleading, I will quote from writers of note and professed Christian experience.
Prof. George B. Foster, for some time the leading teacher in the University of Chicago Divinity School, says: “Religion is not of divine or miraculous origin. It is not a religion from a God, but an achievement of man. . . . More and more people are giving up the idea that their religion is something handed down to them from a divine source. They are coming to see that their religion is just as good as, and better than, if it had been given to them without the work of human agencies.” — Dallas “Daily Times Herald,” December 27, 1908.
The Rev. Artemas J. Haynes, speaking on the validity of the Scriptures, said: “The New Testament is not infallible. Any schoolboy can prove it from almost every page of the book. . . . We are to read the Bible as we read any other book, rejecting those parts which were incidental, accepting those parts which are permanent because of their inherent moral and spiritual grandeur. It is an old saying quoted from Bishop Butler, that it is the province of reason to pass upon the probability of any scripture. To conclude I would say that we are not to speak of the Bible as infallible, nor are we to speak of it as reliable expect in parts. It is certainly unreliable as a book of science; and I think very few would to-day accept the philosophy of Job. It is not always reliable ethically, especially in the Old Testament.”
Many others maintain the same. A recent writer said, “Portions of the Bible are indecent, inhuman, and false.”
The Judge and the Thing Judged
Setting the “reason” of man above the Scriptures, deciding upon the “probability” of their truthfulness, certainly leaves all men free to mount the judgment-seat and6acquit or condemn. The judge is higher than the thing to be judged; therefore in the above view, the judgment or reason of man is higher than the word of God as given in the Bible. It is at liberty to condemn such parts as it may not approve, and virtually must point out its own savior. One scripture says, “So that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:4, last clause.
Having questioned the inspiration of the Scriptures, the account of creation becomes open to adjustment by every self-appointed Bible critic.
A Seven-Thousand-Year Day
A leaflet entitled “Bible Study Club,” in which are printed lessons for study during the first three months of 1913, to be used in Sunday-schools, has the following: “God arranged a great week of seven days for His great work of bringing man to perfection. Six of these days prepared our planet to receive Adam as its lord and earthly king, an image of his Creator. The seventh day, which there began, is not yet completed — it lacks a thousand years of completion. . . . The seventh day of the creative week began with Adam’s creation, and has already lasted six thousand years, and is to be completed with the thousand years of Christ’s reign. The seventh creative day will be seven thousand years long. Whoever sees this to be a reasonable deduction, can easily suppose that the six preceding days of the Genesis account were likewise seven thousand years each.”
“The seventh day, which there began, is not yet completed — it lacks a thousand years of completion.” This is the sober statement of one who claims to be a believer in the Bible as the revelation of God. If the seventh day of creation week is not yet a completed day, then God has not yet rested the seventh day, and the statement that “God did rest the seventh day” can not be a truth. Again, that “God blessed the seventh day [not a part of it], and sanctified it [set it apart for a sacred or holy use] because that in it He had rested,” would be deprived of all its meaning. In Ex. 20:11 we read, “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day [rest day], and hallowed it.”
That creation seventh day was rested upon by God Himself and was past when He blessed the day and set it apart or sanctified it for man’s use. This sanctification must have looked forward to future duplicates of that first rest day, in memory of that day, as past time can not be set apart for use in any way. Christ says, “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark 2:27.
The Bible Says Twenty-Four Hours
The evidence is certain. The seventh day of creation was the last day of the first literal week of time. God sets it there, and it has no other commencement. The seventh day as rested upon by God, and set apart for man, was the same kind of day that man has had from that day to the present. God Himself said, “The seventh day is the Sabbath [rest day] of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” Ex. 20:10.
We do not understand that man was to rest for seven thousand years, but that man was to recognize that the seventh day of twenty-four hours was God’s rest day, and when it came at the close of six days of labor, he was to acknowledge Him by resting as He rested, on His rest day.
After stating that “the seventh day of creation week” will be seven thousand years in length, the writer gives his proof for these statements in the following language: “Whoever sees this to be a reasonable deduction, can easily suppose that the six preceding days of the Genesis account were likewise seven thousand years each.”
We agree with the conclusion, because, in the light of the scripture, “whoever sees this to be a reasonable deduction, can easily suppose” anything, however unscriptural.
All in Six Days
The writer continues, “The seventh day of the creative week began with Adam’s creation,” also that Eve was created “in the beginning of the seventh day.” These are evidently deductions drawn from the statement that “on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made.” Gen. 2:2. Many have inquired as to the meaning of this language. I will read from other scriptures to explain the statement: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.” Ex. 20:11.
If all that is in our heaven, earth, and sea was made in the six days, then man also was made in the six days. This agrees with Gen. 1:26, 27, 31. If “all” was made in six days, then we can see that “ended” must have the significance of “rested” or “ceased from.”
The Septuagint, the oldest version of the Scriptures, reads, “And God finished on the sixth day His work which He made, and He ceased on the seventh day from all His works which He made.” Gen. 2:2.
The writer of the lessons believes that Adam was really created, but that vegetation came by evolution. He says: “The account does not say that God made so many different kinds of grasses and fruit, trees, etc. It declares that under divine command the earth brought forth these various kinds. Nothing in the Genesis account would interfere with an evolutionary theory as respects vegetation.”
We will try this “Genesis account” with the above statement. “The Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew.” Gen. 2:4, last clause, and verse 5.
To uphold the evolutionary theory for all vegetation, and in this way give some show of reason for a seven-thousand-year day in which it would come to a state of use for beasts and man, is the evident effort.
This writer says, “The account does not say that God made” these. But as we have seen, “the account” does emphatically say that God made them before they were in the earth, and before they grew.
God has carefully guarded the week of seven twenty-four-hour days all the way through. It was a continuation of the creation week. Leaving out this God-given record, no man could point out the time when twenty-four-hour days and seven-day weeks began.
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spake, and it was; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:6, 9.
Believing this statement, Paul could speak by the Holy Spirit and say, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Heb. 11:3.
It is not only that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, but it is by the word of God that we understand it. Other speculations are vain, and lead to doubts as to the truthfulness of that Word. He who doubts that Word, is as a ship without a true chart or compass. He will drift here and there, but no man will ever drift into the harbor of heaven. He must pull against currents and tides. The drift will always carry him the other way.
Under His Wing
By Mrs. M. C. Sellers
By Mrs. M. C. Sellers
Safe in the rock, ’neath His sheltering wing,
Guarded by holy ones, here I can sing,—
Sing of His love and the blessings now given,
Sing of my hope in yon beautiful heaven.
CHORUS
Under His wing, sheltered, I sing,
Under His wing.
Safe when the storm rages fiercely around,
Safe in this wonderful rock I have found,
Here in this sheltering rock I am blessed;
Who, then, can harm me here? Who can molest?
Hid in this sheltering rock, safe am I;
Storms may rage round me, yet they’ll pass by;
Here in this beautiful haven of rest,
Safe He is keeping me; here I am blessed.
Hid in the cleft of His pierced, riven side,
Holy ones guarding me, what can betide?
I have surrendered all, all, to His will,
Asked Him to purify, cleanse me, and fill.
The Great Threefold Message
1. What is the first part of this great threefold message, as we learned in our study last week?
A great, positive, “everlasting gospel” message to the world to bring men back to God. “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 7.
NOTE.— All positive Christian truth is implied in this message. If heeded, it would lead from all error to the eternal verities of God. It would sever the church of Christ from her senseless, hoary traditions, from her bondage to dead hands and from “scientific” delusions, and would clothe her with the beautiful garments of truth and salvation.
2. What is the second part of this great threefold message?
A sad announcement of the consequences of rejecting the first message: “Babylon is fallen, . . . because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Verse 8.
NOTE.— “Babylon” means “confusion,” caused by false standards, errors, traditions. The gospel message, if received, would have healed all these divisions. Failing to receive the divine remedy, as shown last week, Babylon turned to the world for help, and the sad announcement is made that she is guilty of fornication with the world, and is fallen.
3. What warning does the Lord send against this result of Babylon’s fornication?
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Rev. 14: 9-11.
4. To whom does the warning come?
To “any man,” therefore every man, every soul.
5. Against what is it uttered?
Against the worship of “the beast,” the worship of the “image” of the beast, and against the reception of the “mark” of the beast.
What Is the Beast?
6. What beast is meant?
“And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns.” Rev. 13: 1.
7. What was the beast like?
“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion.” Verse 2.
NOTE.— It will be seen, by the student of prophecy, that this beast is the successor of the three first beasts of Daniel 7,—the lion, Babylon; the bear, Medo-Persia; and the leopard, Grecia. This beast of Revelation 13 is therefore the same beast power, successor of Grecia, and identical in part with the nondescript beast of Daniel 7 in both phases, but with some additional features.
8. What is the character of this beast?
“And upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.” “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.” “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Verses 1, 5-7.
WHEN THE CURTAIN FALLS ON THE DRAMA OF THIS WORLD'S HISTORY
9. Whence does the beast receive his authority?
“And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat [literally, “throne”], and great authority.” Verse 2.
10. Who is represented by the dragon?
“The great dragon, . . . that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan.” Rev. 12: 9.
11. Has the devil any power to give world dominion?
“The devil, taking Him [Jesus] up into an high mountain, showed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine.” Luke 4: 5-7.
NOTE.— We may not stop now to study all that is implied in the devil’s statement. Jesus twice calls him “the prince of this world.” John 12: 31; 14: 30. It was no temptation to Christ if there was no possibility of Satan’s power to give the kingdom. Suffice to say that under God the dominion belonged to man. Gen. 1: 28. When man fell, he yielded himself and all in his possession to Satan, and so the devil is prince of the world de facto, while Christ is King de jure. In other words, Satan has temporal possession by usurpation; Christ will sometime reign eternally. “The servant [slave of sin] abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever.” John 8: 35.
12. What, therefore, does the beast represent?
Church-and-state government.
NOTE.— No purely secular government will persecute; it has no reason or desire so to do. It does not meddle with the religion of its subjects, the relationship solely between them and God. A church separate from civil power can not persecute, howsoever much it may desire; it has not the power. There must be some union of the two, and this union God designates as a beast.
13. How extensive is this beast power?
It had “seven heads.”
NOTE.— “Seven” denotes completion, and here refers to the seven forms of government, or dynasties, through which Satan has worked and will work to the end against God’s truth and people. God does not permit the evil spirits to use their supernatural power against man except with man’s consent; but the devil has ever used humanity to oppress the children of God. The head, the seat of the brain and intellect, is what determines the character of the thinking thing it is upon. The beast represents the dominant church-and-state kingdom of the world. Each head—for they are successive—determines the character of the beast during the life of the head.
These heads began with the first oppressor of God’s people, when their kingdom was overthrown, and they went into captivity to Babylon. From that time to the application of the prophecy of Rev. 13:1-10, world empire has passed through five of its seven phases, as follows: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, pagan Rome, papal Rome. In all these, religion has been in the purview of the state. In the first four, the state has dominated the ruler or king representing divinity. In the fifth, diverse from all before it, the church dominates the state. Neither form is of Him who declared, “My kingdom is not of this world.” A government which claims to represent Him while exercising such tyranny is guilty of blasphemy.
Worship—True and False
14. What is the demand of this beast, and how many will eventually yield to its demand?
It demands “worship.” “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,7whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Rev. 13: 8.
15. Who alone should be worshiped, and what is truest worship?
“Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Matt. 4: 10.
16. What, then, has the beast always demanded?
Service, obedience to its laws even tho those laws are contrary to God’s laws.
NOTE.— Even so Babylon demanded that all should bow to the golden image, and refusal so to do meant death in the fiery furnace. Daniel 3. Medo-Persia demanded worship for the king, exalted by law to the throne of Deity. Refusal meant death in the lions’ den. Daniel 6. So with the decree obtained by Haman to destroy the Jews; it was because “their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.” Esther 3: 8. Thus has it ever been.
17. What does the beast under the fifth head do to those who will not worship it?
“It was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them.” Rev. 13: 7. “He . . . shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” Dan. 7: 25.
18. How long will it exercise this high-handed power?
“And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” Rev. 13: 5. “And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Dan. 7: 25.
NOTE.— It will be seen that the beast of Rev. 13: 5-7 is identical with Daniel’s fourth beast dominated by the little horn. The little horn is identical with the fifth head of the beast. They are both of the same character, do the same work, exist as dominating, persecuting powers the same period of time.
19. In what power are all these and other specifications fulfilled?
In papal Rome, the fifth head of world dominion in succession from Babylon and the overturning of the kingdom of Israel.
NOTE.— Let us discriminate between the Roman Catholic Church and the Papacy. The former is corrupt, ambitious, intolerant, but she has many souls in her fold who know naught of the ambition, the intolerance, but who truly know God and His Son Jesus Christ; who are Christians despite the error and corruption which exist, but who know no other way, having been taught that any other way is the way of death. God recognizes their purpose of heart. But the Papacy, that union of church and state devised and carried out by ambitious men, before whose wicked assumptions thousands were put to death for conscience’ sake, is not of God, tho so averred in every moment of its history.
20. Of what did Jesus warn His disciples?
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” John 16: 2.
21. What is the image to the beast?
It is a union of church and state, to be formed in this government, represented by the two-horned beast (Rev. 13: 11-17), with its lamblike horns symbolic of Christ (Rev. 5: 6), and its ultimate laws of a dragonic or satanic character (Rev. 12: 13).
22. What, then, is the meaning of God’s warning by the message of the third angel?
That to yield to or serve any authority whatsoever, contrary to God’s law or service, is to incur His just wrath against the most heinous of sins.
23. What class will be developed by this great threefold message, whose character is opposed to that of the beast-worshipers?
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12.
24. What is the next event?
The coming of the Son of Man to reap the harvest of the earth. Verse 14.
Evidence Cumulative
By M. C. Wilcox
It is a fundamental principle in the interpretation of the great lines of prophecy in the word of God, that the evidence is cumulative. That is, all true views and added evidence of the fulfilment of prophecy strengthen and add to all that has gone before. There are no reactions. If the evidence is clear to-day that the prophecy is nearing fulfilment, it is still clearer to-morrow. There may be levels, or seeming levels, along the way; but when the prophecy nears its fulfilment, there are no long hills again to climb. There are dips and plunges, but no steeps which must be negotiated.
Take, for instance, the prophecy concerning the United States. It presents before us a peaceful, quiet nation, one that speaks for liberty, and has within it, giving strength to its early years, the great principles of civil and religious liberty. But the prophecy declares that it is to speak as a dragon. It is to form an image to the great beast system. It is in some form or other to unite church and state, or make religion a thing of the state. There was a time when it was almost impossible to present any evidence of the fulfilment of the prophecy in that respect. But movements began to crystallize, elements began to unite, and from that time to the present time every year has added to the evidence of fulfilment. There have been times when manifestations of such things were quiet—the road was seemingly level; but there never has been a time when the student of prophecy has had to depend on evidences long past. He has found fresh cumulations every day to add to the stock of the evidences already obtained.
So it is with the great prophecy of Daniel 2, of the intermingling of the iron of imperialism with the clay of republicanism, or socialism. So it has been with Daniel 7, in the great words, and the multiplicity of great words, which the horn spoke. So also with other prophecies. No disappointment comes to those who are thus following the prophecies of God’s word. This fundamental principle, with a large number of other principles, holds and helps to balance the student, and give him added courage and hope in his study of the prophetic Word.
M. C. WILCOX.
A Sign
By G. C. Hoskin
If you met your Masonic brother walking down the street, and he gave you a “sign,” you would recognize it, wouldn’t you? This same question might be asked of members of all fraternities. What is in that sign? What does it mean to you? What would be the result if some other sign, a spurious one, were given? You wouldn’t recognize it, would you? Every order has its “sign.” It denotes membership. The great Jehovah has His “sign.” Let us read of it in His own words:
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.” Ex. 31: 16, 17.
In Ex. 20: 8-11, He tells us which day He has reference to. If that is His “sign” between Himself and His people, how about some one hailing Him with another “sign”? Do you suppose it would be recognized? He has given just the sign He desires, and has never changed it. He can’t change it, for it is in commemoration of His creative work for this world. Nothing could better serve the purpose of drawing the hearts of His children to Him. Is the “sign” with which you hail Jehovah genuine?
G. C. Hoskin.
A Lovely Thought as a Gift
If, instead of a gem, or even a flower, we would cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels must give.— George Macdonald.
Heaven’s Invitation Free to All
By Mabel Corine Craker
By Mabel Corine Craker
Have you purchased a ticket to heaven? If not, why not? Can you say? There is one that awaits your procuring, And Christ is the agent to-day. There can be no mistake in the passage, As but one road leads to the place, And no other agent can issue A passport which time can’t efface.
And now, as to checking your baggage— There may be some chattels you prize Above others. You may wish to take with you Much raiment and other supplies. Now, the road is exceedingly narrow, There are numerous highlands quite steep, And the less that you start with, the better, As baggage you’ll find hard to keep.
You need not prepare any raiment, For your clothes would all be “out of date” When you reach the end of the journey, And their fashion might make you too late. Besides, garments woven in heaven Included with tickets you’ll find, And needed supplies are all furnished By Owners controlling the line.
Insurance? Why, yes. They’ll insure Your life past the doors of the grave; But not for your friends or your kinsmen. For your profit the policy’s made. Eternity’s freighted with treasures. Heaven’s palaces, decked with pure gold, Will open their doors to the faithful When this world’s weary story is told.
Should you deem that the road is too narrow, Should you long for the pleasures below, Should you tire of the few who are trav’ling, And think that their progress is slow, You need not pursue the way further; No force will compel you to stay. But think of the road you’ll be treading Should you turn from your Saviour away?
Think not that because the way’s straitened, And sometimes the clouds hang quite low, No sunshine e’er pierces the shadow, And no flowers of rare beauty blow. There’s nothing can equal the freedom, The joy, and the peace, and the love, Of those who are trav’ling to Zion, With their sins sent before to their God.
Now, what do you think of the journey? Are you ready and willing to go? Your destiny hangs in the balance, Awaiting your choice here below. Come now, while the Day-star is shining, E’er the darkness of night seals your fate, And you hear from the lips of the Saviour The terrible sentence, “Too late!”
How Peace Will Come
By W. A. Spicer
By W. A. Spicer
To encourage the preaching of sermons on peace and arbitration among the nations, the Lake Mohawk (New York) Conference on International Arbitration has offered prizes for the best sermons submitted. The first prize for this year was awarded Dr. Rutherford Waddell, of New Zealand, for a sermon that closed with these words:
“The world everywhere seems to be drawing further and further away from such a conception [the way of self-sacrifice]. It is disowning the Lordship of Christ, and is compelled thereon to trust more and more to the lordship and security of fleets and armies. Well, wait a while, and what then?—Then Armageddon. Then what Christ calls the fulfilment of the times of the nations. What does that mean?—It means the end of the present Gentile dispensation. The end of the Jewish nation came with the overthrow and sack of Jerusalem. And Christ says that is a type. It is a type of how the Gentile times shall be fulfilled and closed. It is a terrifying prophecy; but he would be a bold man who would deny that the signs of to-day are pointing ominously to this dread issue. Peace shall come; Christ is pledged to that. And it seems that it may come as the summer earth has won it, through flame and storm, through agonies and overthrows.”— The “Expositor,” June, 1913.
Photograph by Paul Thompson
The speaker surely reads the tendency of the times aright, and the sure word of prophecy points clearly to just such an overthrow of all the kingdoms of this world before there can come the new earth and the reign of peace. When this Armageddon comes, human probation will have closed, and the judgments of God will be falling upon an unbelieving world. Rev. 16:16-21. That is why the gospel message for these last days is a message of preparation for the coming of the Lord. Peace and arbitration societies and efforts of statesmen may be used of God in holding back and delaying the final clashing of the elements of strife; but the storm is sure to break upon the world in this generation. Christ’s description of the last days should be read again, along with the words from this prize sermon on peace:
“And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. . . . Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” Luke 21:24-32.
Peace among the nations will never come in this present world. Now the message is for every soul to make peace with God individually, and be ready to meet the Saviour. “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
Physical Disturbances and Their Meaning
On September 7, a series of thirty earthquake shocks was felt at Martinique. This place was visited not so long ago with serious shocks of this kind. These earthquakes in Martinique would not be so remarkable if they were isolated cases, but earthquake shocks are coming to be a very common occurrence in all parts of the world. Not only are they felt in places that have been considered in the “earthquake zone,” but they are felt in unusual localities. And not alone do we have the earthquake, but there is the tornado, and storms of various kinds and characters, that are producing havoc in so many parts of the world. Men are taking note of these things; and regardless of the assurances from some of our scientists that such phenomena do not mean anything alarming, yet they are spreading terror into many hearts. Please read carefully the following scripture, which is very much to the point, and see if it will not help you to understand the meaning of these unusual occurrences in this time:
“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty men shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zeph. 1:14-18.
Observe from the foregoing scripture that the day of the Lord is a time of “trouble and distress”; it is “a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” And finally, God will bring distress upon men until they shall walk like blind men, and all because they have sinned against the Lord. And their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in that great day. The unusual things that are occurring in this time will continue to increase in violent force as the days come and go.
But these conditions need not alarm us if we know what they signify, and if we know the hand that is holding the helm. Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air,” and the Book tells us that he will come down with great wrath when he knows that his time is short. But God will not permit him to overthrow, or fill with despair, those who are trusting in the divine promises. These things are made very clear in the word of God, and we need to know them for ourselves, and to rest in the joys of God’s salvation, so that we may not be filled with any of the terrors that will be incident to the great day of the Lord, which is near and hasting greatly. In this connection, please read the following beautiful statements and promises:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation: there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Ps. 91:1-11.
The foregoing text tells of the pestilence and the destruction that will be wasting the10land. It tells of the thousands that will be falling. But at the same time, it says that those who are dwelling under the shadow of the Almighty shall not be afraid. What a wonderful promise! What a wonderful citadel of power and of joy! Do you know these promises? Are you trusting in them in this time?
