The warfare that began in heaven did not end there. When Satan was cast out, there were cast out with him a large number of angels whom by his sophistry he had led to rebel against God. They came to this earth, and the same deception by which Satan caused the fall of the angels, he practised upon Adam and Eve. They fell under his temptation, and ever since there has been waged an unceasing, desperate conflict between good and evil. This earth is the scene of the conflict, the field of the battle between the forces of Satan and the forces of Christ. Until the end there will be warfare between satanic agencies and those who accept Christ, those for whom he gave his life, that they might have power to obey the law of God. This conflict, which is outlined in the Word of God, concerns us individually, and in it we are now to be intensely interested.
When Adam apostatized, he placed himself on Satan’s side; his nature became evil, and he became separated from God. Had there been no interference on the part of God, Satan and man would have formed an alliance against heaven, and together they would have carried on a battle against God. There is not a natural enmity between fallen angels and fallen man. Naturally both are united in rebellion against good. Evil, wherever it exists, will always league with evil against good, so that naturally fallen angels and fallen men are linked in a desperate companionship.
But as soon as man transgressed, God gave the promise that he would put enmity between Satan and the seed of the woman. This promise is the key that opens to the world the grand plan of redemption. When Satan had succeeded in causing the fall of our first parents, he supposed that the whole of the human race would come under his control, that he and his sympathizers could induce men to join them in rebellion, as he had induced the angels to join him. He thought that he would have human beings as his allies against heaven, and that he could dethrone the Omnipotent One, and once more take his place in heaven.
When Satan heard the word, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed,” he knew that man would be given power to resist his temptations. He realized that his claim to the position of prince of the newly created world was to be contested, that One would come whose work would be fatal to his evil purposes, that he and his angels would be forever defeated. His assurance of certain power, his sense of security, was gone. Adam and Eve had yielded to his temptations, and their posterity would feel the strength of his assaults. But they would not be left without a helper. The Son of God was to come to the world, to be tempted in our behalf, and in our behalf to overcome.
There is enmity between fallen human beings and Satan only as man places himself on God’s side, and yields obedience to the law of Jehovah. This brings to him power to withstand Satan’s attacks. It is through Christ’s sacrifice that man is enabled to obey. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Son of God, bearing human nature, and tempted on all points as we are tempted, met and resisted the assaults of the enemy. And in his strength human beings can gain the victory, meeting the tempter, yet not overcome by his artifice and his presumptuous presentations. By accepting Christ as a personal Saviour, men and women can stand firm against the temptations of the enemy. Human beings may have eternal life if they will accept the principles of heaven, and allow Christ to bring the heart and mind into obedience to the law of Jehovah.
Christ saw the meaning of Satan’s wiles, and till the end of his test and trial, he stood firm in his resistance, refusing to swerve from allegiance to God. He took his stand on the foundation of truth, and from this foundation he would not move, even for the offer of the whole world and the glory of it, which Satan promised should be his if he would fall down and worship him.
The way in which Satan tempted Christ, he is to-day tempting every soul. He seeks to hold men under his reasoning. The Saviour warns us against entering into controversy with him or his agencies. We are not to meet them except on the Bible ground, “It is written.” The less that we have to do with the arguments of those who are opposed to God, the firmer will be our foundation. We are to repeat as seldom as possible the sentiments of Satan’s forming. Let every tempted soul keep looking at the principles that are wholly from above, remembering the promise, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman.” Ministers, physicians, church-members, enmity against Satan is a gift from God, and the power provided by God is your efficiency.
The plain evidence given in the Word is the evidence that we are to present. The words that God has given, it is safe for us to speak to the opposing forces. “It is written” was the only weapon that Christ used in his contest with Satan.
It is by loyalty to God’s law that every soul who shall enter the pearly gates into the city of God will be tested. The Saviour has worked out the salvation of every one who will receive him and believe in him. Christ is to be received by faith, in the full belief that he is the propitiation for our sins. He took upon himself the iniquities of the fallen race, and suffered in the sinner’s stead. To lay hold by faith upon Christ, to become a partaker of the divine nature, is the sinner’s only hope. Through the efficacy of the atonement made, man may return to his allegiance. Through accepting the righteousness of Christ, he may become loyal to the law of God, united to the Father and the Son.
In the great controversy now going on, God’s servants are to put on every piece of the gospel armor, and fight manfully for him. We are wrestling with no human foe. God calls upon every Christian to enter the warfare and fight under his leadership, depending for success on grace and help from above. In God’s strength we are to go forward. Never are we to yield ground to Satan. Why should we not, as Christian warriors, stand against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world? Satan will place temptation before us. He will try by stratagem to overcome us. But in the strength of Christ we may stand firm as a rock to the principles of heaven.
In this warfare there is no release. Satan’s agents never pause in their work of destruction. Those who are in Christ’s service must guard every outpost. To save perishing souls from ruin is our object. This is a work of infinite greatness, and man can not hope to obtain success in it unless he unites with the divine Worker.
The terrible condition of the world to-day would seem to indicate that apparently the death of Christ has been almost in vain; that Satan has8triumphed. The great majority of the world’s inhabitants belong to Satan’s kingdom. Satanic agencies are not yet subdued. Christ has not yet set up his kingdom on the earth. “We see not yet all things put under him.”
But we have not been deceived. Notwithstanding the apparent triumph of Satan on the earth, Christ is carrying forward his work in the heavenly sanctuary. The word of God portrays the wickedness and corruption that should exist in the world in the last days. As we see the fulfilment of prophecy, our faith in the final triumph of Christ’s kingdom should be increased. We should go forth with courage to do our appointed work.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, . . . Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
The Great Commission
By Merrill E. Gates
HARK, how the great commission —
The Master's charge sublime —
His promise of fruition,
Rings through this latest time!
“All power to me is given,
Your King and risen Lord,
All power in earth and heaven,
Go, therefore, speak my word!”
“Go ye to every nation,
And teach ye in my name
The gospel of salvation,
Ye ministers of flame!
Lo, I am with you ever,
Unto the ages’ end,
My Spirit fails them never —
The heralds whom I send!”
The church in deadly slumber
Hears not, all unawaked;
Nor fills she up the number
Of precious souls elect
From every tribe and kindred,
Where’er are found the lost;
She goes not forth unhindered
To gather in God’s host!
HARK to Christ’s last commission,
His resurrection tone!
“Sin’s full and free remission,
Teach this and this alone!”
The church has ONE vocation,
But ONE her labors here —
To spread the great salvation,
Till Christ himself appear!
— The late Mrs. Merrill E. Gates.
The Test of Discipleship
By H. J. Farman
H. J. FARMAN
“But if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8: 9, A. R. V. “Born of the Spirit,” “in the Spirit,” “led by the Spirit of God,” “walk by the Spirit,” “live by the Spirit,” “hear what the Spirit saith to the churches,” and many similar expressions are familiar to the students of Scripture, and clearly express the Christian’s experience. Nothing is more imperative than to know that we are Christians, and one of the important evidences is thus expressed: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Verse 16. Having the Spirit of Christ is the test of Christianity, and all other graces follow in their order, as “the obedience of faith” wrought out in love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.” And why no law against such? — Because “they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.” Gal. 5: 22-24.
No more important questions can be settled by each individual than these: Have I the Spirit of Christ, or have I not? Am I cherishing, following, and obeying the Spirit? Shall I, through the Spirit’s power, ever and always so live that the Holy Spirit will witness with my spirit that my ways please him? Upon the right settlement of these and other like questions, depends our future usefulness in the third angel’s message. Altogether too much time has now run to waste in careless indifference, as if we had a millennium in which to prepare for the Saviour’s coming, when indeed he is now about to lay aside his priestly robes, put on the garments of vengeance, and come to this earth. Are we ready?
It has been, and is, Satan’s studied plan to keep God’s people from enjoying the presence and power of the Holy Spirit; for should they possess it, his subjects would be continually taken from him, and his end would speedily come. O that this might be so! and it will be so, whether or not we have the Holy Spirit. The writer believes the time has fully come when decisive measures are being taken by the Father to bring his people to himself, where the Holy Spirit can guide them; and those who refuse thus to be drawn to God, will follow their own spirit to death. How dreadful to be left to one’s self without the Spirit of God! yet there is but one of two conditions to occupy, namely, to be in possession of the Spirit, or to be without it; there is no middle ground to occupy, it is either one thing or the other; we either have it, or we have it not. We can quickly settle this question by the Word of God, and our own lives, which must be in harmony with it. Here are some of the evidences: “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” 2 Cor. 5: 17. “But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.” Rom. 8: 9. “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. . . . So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Verses 10-14.
Reader, have you the Spirit of God? If not, ask, seek, knock, and find. Luke 11: 9-13. Make speedy application of the promises of God concerning his gift of the Holy Spirit, lest he say to you, “My Spirit have ye grieved away for the last time.”
Lynchburg, Va.
Does the Testimony of a Prophet Change?
By Stephen N. Haskell
S. N. HASKELL
The more we study the nature and character of the prophets, the more we shall see that they are mortal men like all other members of the human family, and they themselves are not infallible, but the voice of God spoken through them is infallible. Elijah was a prophet of God, but he “was a man subject to like passions as we are.” He represents all other prophets. Notwithstanding this, “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” The Spirit of God controls men, but men do not control the Spirit of God. God meets men where they are, and when they turn to seek him, their attitude toward God determines God’s attitude toward them. The Jews brought upon themselves swift destruction by rejecting Christ and treating him as an enemy. Their attitude was that Christ was an enemy, and that if they let him alone, the Romans would come and take away their city.
To Ahab God said, “Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. . . . It came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” 1 Kings 21:24-29. If the humbling of the heart of Ahab postponed this awful calamity on the king, it would have done the same for his sons. God’s threatenings are conditional upon the repentance of the individual who is in the wrong. It was the same with Zedekiah.
A prophet went out to meet Asa, “and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” Asa had a great victory when he cried unto the Lord in his weakness. But afterward he relied upon his own wisdom and united with his enemies. Through prosperity he became lifted up. For this the Lord reproved him, and said: “From henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.” Then it was that God forsook him. Repentance always moves the arm of God. Threatenings come because of departures from God. In this sense the testimonies may be said to change, but it is because men change. God always deals in mercy, and meets men where they are.
The Lord lays down one principle of his government that should never be forgotten: “At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak unto a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” Jer. 18:7-10. God always works on this principle. He is not arbitrary in his requirements. Men are free moral agents. His prophets reprove for deep-seated wrongs in the hearts of his people. Circumstances always appear to make the case perplexing. All this is permitted of the Lord, as stubbornness exists in the9heart. Satan is on hand to blind the mind. If we were only reproved for what we know, then it would be no reproof. But if it is what we do not know, then it is trying because we do not know. Satan in the heart will never bear reproof. He defies God. He did this in heaven, and was cast out. And in proportion as the heart is blinded, and comes under his power, so it will defy reproof; and the Spirit of prophecy never can compromise, if it emanates from God. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” O that men could learn and see God’s dealing with the children of men! God ever deals first in the greatest tenderness with his own people; but when he begins to reprove men for their sins by his prophets, it revives the same old controversy that Satan began in heaven. If a persistent and stubborn course of revolt is carried on, it will end in destruction, for God will vindicate himself.
San Bernardino, Cal.
“The Fiery Demon”
By H. F. Ketting
For more than a month a gas-well, in the edge of the Indian Territory, about seven miles southeast of Caney, Kan., has been burning with terrific fury. Words are entirely inadequate to describe the awful grandeur of the scene as a flame of burning gas shoots one hundred and fifty feet into the air.
The well was drilled by the New York Gas Company, February 17. After striking gas at a depth of about fifteen hundred feet, the men were working for days under extreme difficulty to get the combustible stuff under control.
On Friday afternoon, February 23, there occurred a thunder storm in the vicinity of the well where the gas has been escaping for several days at the rate of thirty-eight million cubic feet a day, filling the upper regions with gas.
At the sound of a loud clap of thunder, the workmen looked upward, and to their consternation saw the heavens ablaze with the burning gas. They immediately fled from the scene, just in time to escape being caught in the fiery flame. In an instant the well was on fire, and the burning gas set up such a scream and roar that it could be heard twenty miles away. Nothing can describe the terror of the spectacle. Stones weighing several pounds were thrown a thousand feet into the air. Soon an opening in the shape of a funnel was made at the mouth of the well.
Since then the volume of the gas being consumed has increased to nearly double that at the beginning; the daily consumption is now estimated at seventy million cubic feet. The ground is completely burned for a radius of fifty feet, and it is impossible to get nearer than seventy-five feet from the well, on account of the intense heat.
Gas experts are at their wits' end to know how to extinguish the flames which, up to the present, have shown no signs of diminishing. Over fifty men have since been employed in the effort to harness the “fiery demon,” but the heat is so terrible that water must be thrown continually upon the men while they are at work.
At first it was thought that the fire could be extinguished in the usual way by turning steam on at the bottom of the flame. But that seemed to make it burn all the more furiously. It was then thought that by means of an immense crane, a hood in the shape of a funnel turned upside down and weighing several tons, could be placed over the top of the well. The first attempt was made on March 9, but they were unable to swing the immense hood over the well.
VIEW OF THE GAS-WELL
A few days later another and more successful attempt was made to place the hood in position, but it had been over the well but a short time when it was burned up, the great crane which was used to swing it was melted and burned down, and soon all was but a pile of scrap-iron. The rubbish was immediately cleared away, and a larger and heavier hood was prepared, and weighed down with several extra tons of iron, and another attempt was made, but with the same result. Thus the fiery monster is still at large, defying all their efforts to bring it into subjection.
Nothing that I have ever seen in any way surpasses, or even equals, the awful grandeur of the scene, except an active volcano. But this is a volcano on a small scale.
The people in the vicinity of the great gas-well are becoming considerably concerned, and can begin to comprehend how the world can be destroyed by fire. If men can drill a few feet into the earth and find gas in the quantity that they are unable to extinguish after it has been ignited, how much more of this combustible is hidden away in the heart of the earth, kept in store for the great day of God's wrath.
Some people scoff at the idea of the earth being destroyed by fire, but Peter says that such are “willingly ignorant” of the facts and conditions as they exist to-day. Science has proved that the earth is filled with the most combustible elements, which, under certain conditions, would envelop this world in a mass of flames.
The Word of God declares that “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7.
We read that God by a look causes the earth to tremble, and that by simply touching the mountains he causes them to smoke (Ps. 104:32); how terrible will be the scene when “fire comes down from God out of heaven” and ignites the gases composing the earth, causing the earth to melt, and all things therein to be burned up.
And so we read: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:10-13.—H. F. Ketting, in The Signs of the Times.
[Since this article was first printed, the efforts to cover the well and extinguish the great fire have been successful, and “the fiery demon” was overcome March 29.—Ed.]
The Deceitful World
By Bonar
O WORLD, with all thy smiles and loves,
With all thy song and wine,
What mockery of human hearts,
What treachery is thine!
Thou wouldest, but thou canst not heal,
Thy words are warbled lies;
Thy hand contains the poisoned cup,
And he who drinks it dies.
O world, there's fever in thy touch,
And frenzy in thine eye;
To lose and shun thee is to live,
To win thee is to die!
— Bonar.
Good Recipes
If you have the blues, read the twenty-seventh Psalm.
If your pocketbook is empty, read the thirty-seventh Psalm.
If people seem unkind to you, read the fifteenth of John.
If discouraged about your work, read the one hundred and twenty-sixth Psalm.
When you are out of sorts, read the twelfth of Hebrews.
When you are losing confidence in the men, read the thirteenth of First Corinthians.
When you can’t have your own way, keep silent, and read the third of James.
— Selected.
The North England Conference
By Guy Dail
GUY DAIL
Next in the regular meetings in Great Britain, was the North England Conference, held in the populous city of Manchester (Lower Broughton Town Hall), March 16-20.
As it had been but half a year since the former gathering of this conference the president’s address covered the work of only six months. During that time, as he pointed out, three churches had been organized, one at Newcastle-on-Tyne, with thirty-two members; one at Sheffield, with nineteen members; and the old church at Grimsby was reorganized, with a membership of seven. The work in Sheffield has so rapidly grown that it now has thirty-four members, and in Newcastle-on-Tyne there are forty-nine. At the close of 1905 there were sixteen organized churches, eight companies, and five isolated believers, making a total membership of five hundred and forty-four, showing a net gain of one hundred and eleven for the year. But since the first of January, 1906, seventy-seven more have been baptized in this field.
Sixteen laborers have been engaged in the work; but a part of the time two of them have not been occupied in North England, as Brother McCord was transferred to South England, and Brother Andross, the president, had to devote a great deal of his time to interests of the British Union. Efforts have been conducted in King’s Heath, where our annual tent-meeting was held last summer, and in Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Sheffield, Nottingham, Manchester, Wigan, and Market Harborough.
Two new Sabbath-schools have been organized, so there are now twenty-three schools, with a membership of six hundred and sixty-one.
Financially, the same growth noted in South England may be observed here. The tithe for 1904 was $5,219; for 1905, $6,610. The offerings for 1904 were $764; for last year, $1,000. For 1906 this field will not require any help from American appropriations.
The proposed mission to British East Africa was very heartily supported at this meeting, and the people promised to increase their First-day offerings, and ordered five hundred copies of “Story of Joseph,” a part of the profits from the sale of which will go to strengthen the East African Mission Fund.
TOWN HALL, MANCHESTER
For several years the Health Food Company in Birmingham has had a very hard struggle financially; but the past year has shown a really good gain. The Leicester Sanitarium has also done well, and its usefulness and power are extending each month. Dr. F. C. Richards, who is in charge of the medical work here, and Dr. A. B. Olsen, medical superintendent of our growing sanitarium at Caterham, South England, still continue their public work by forming good health leagues in various cities, thus spreading the grand principles on which the health reform movement is based. Strong resolutions in support of this branch of the message were unanimously passed.
There is another matter that just at this time is receiving great attention in Great Britain—the urgent demand for additional Sunday legislation. The Lord Avery Sunday-rest bill, which was thrown out of the House of Lords last year, has been again introduced, supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The government feels that this is a matter of great concern to its subjects, and one that should be very carefully investigated. A joint committee composed of members from the two houses is to receive all the evidence that can be brought before it as to the most effective legislation. This matter is now being vigorously discussed, so this seems to be our opportunity to present the truth on that question. It is proposed that a conference be held in London the coming May, at which every shade of religious opinion may be represented; that on the first Sunday in July, every church in the kingdom shall have a sermon on this Sunday question; and that a letter be drawn up and signed by the leaders of all denominations, and published in every religious paper in Great Britain, urging the people to insist on securing religious legislation. We trust God will give special wisdom to the brethren who have been appointed to act as a religious liberty committee in Great Britain, that all may be done within our power to call the attention of the British nation to the correct principles of religious liberty in connection with the third angel’s message.
There was a good spirit in the meeting, and the election of officers and the transaction of all other business passed off harmoniously. For credentials, the following names were reported and accepted: S. G. Haughey, D. A. Parsons, and A. S. Marchus; for ministerial license, J. Gillatt, J. Ellis, J. D. Gillatt; for missionary license, Mrs. M. Barnard, Mrs. L. A. Parsons, Miss C. Sanders, Miss Jessie F. Bacon, Miss E. Cousins, Miss E. Edie, and Miss J. Welch.
Those elected to hold office for the coming year are: President, W. D. MacLay (who leaves Scotland because the climate does not agree so well with Sister MacLay); other members of the Conference Committee, E. E. Andross, D. Redhead, D. A. Parsons, J. Gillatt; Treasurer and Secretary, Mrs. M. Barnard; Auditor, T. H. Burt; Auditing Committee, to act with Conference Committee, Brethren Hawkins, Normansell, Davies, and Briscombe.
The help of the visiting brethren—Elder Conradi, Professor Salisbury, and Brother Sisley—was timely and much appreciated. We feel sure that the cause of God will more rapidly advance in this field with its more than sixteen millions than it has at any previous time. The workers went to their fields, and the brethren returned to their respective homes, more determined and encouraged than ever before to be faithful in carrying the burdens God has laid upon them.
Hamburg, Germany.
Calling for Help
THERE'S a cry in the wind to-night
From the lands where the Lord is unknown;
While the Shepherd above, in his pitiful love,
Intercedes at his Father's throne.
There's a pain in my heart to-night,—
From the heart of God it came;
For I can not forget that he loves them yet,
And they've never yet heard his name.
There's a sob in my prayer to-night,
When I think of the million homes,
Where never a word of the Lord is heard,
Not a message from Jesus comes.
— Selected.
Rum Production in Inhambane
At Inhambane, Africa, the heathen own and operate five thousand licensed stills, annually producing one hundred thousand barrels of rum.
