Earlier text: The World's HarvestAn Erroneous Idea
By F. A. BOWER
It is said that the land through which the Euphrates River now flows must be the land in which Noah and his family lived before the Flood. The fact is that Noah and his family were shut in the ark for five months, while it was driven by fierce winds over the waters which covered the whole earth to a depth of at least fifteen cubits, or about twenty-two feet. When the ark rested on the ground, and Noah and his family stepped out on the earth once more, there was no telling where they were. They may have been ten or twelve thousand miles from where they started; but as they began to explore the country, and came across a large river, they naturally named it after the one they were familiar with at home. Before the Flood, the rivers sent off branches to water the earth, very much like an irrigation system; but now the small streams flow into the larger ones. In Gen. 2:10-14 we read: "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates." It is quite evident that Noah lived in the land watered by the Euphrates when the earth was in its Edenic beauty. The present country of Assyria is probably a namesake of the antediluvian territory watered by the river Hiddekel. Likewise Ethiopia derives its name from the land watered by the river Gihon. "PRAYER is the golden key which unlocks Heaven's storehouse." XLII. The Fall of Babylon the Great
It will help wonderfully in the understanding of many scriptures if we will remember this: that when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, judgment will fall upon the nations and governments and systems of this world. They have demonstrated their character, and they then meet their doom. All of them are men's efforts to save themselves, men's efforts to control or overcome evil. All, if religious at all, are antagonistic to the Gospel of Christ. Such all worldly systems must be; and when our Lord comes the second time, all these worldly systems of men's devising (and they will include every device and invention of which man is capable) will be demonstrated failures. Autocracies and theocracies, empires and kingdoms, limited monarchies and republics, governments by one and governments by all, will go down together before the glory of Christ's coming. Individuals will meet their doom after the one thousand years of Revelation 20; but all earthly systems will be judged at the coming of Christ. Those existing upon the earth when Christ comes will be included in Babylon the Great. Her wide-spread influence will gather in all into one great world confederation, for it is declared repeatedly in the Scripture that all nations have drunk of "the wine of her fornication." As of old, modern Babylon will present another way of salvation than that of God. When man came forth from the Deluge which doomed a world, God gave him command to multiply and replenish the earth, and scatter abroad—become an agricultural people, as conducive to the strongest, clearest, purest life; but man said, "No; we will build us a city and a tower, and we will make us a name; we will stay together; we will build to heaven ourselves;" and therefore they named the very tower that they built "Bab-il," "The Gate of God." But God did not enter by such a gate; He can not give His glory to another; He can not work out of harmony with His holy law, because the transgression of that law is sin,—missing the mark,—and dooms to everlasting death those who follow that way. Therefore God named that way Babel, from which comes our "Babylon." See the account of it all in Genesis, the 11th chapter. There has been one way by which Babylon could return. God has sought to save Babylon. Over and over again has He indicated this in His Word: "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed." Such was the testimony of Jeremiah in his day. So God sent and has been sending to the world for a half century the "everlasting Gospel" as given in Revelation, the 14th chapter, the 6th and 7th verses, to heal Babylon,—the great, good tidings proclaiming to man to fear God and give Him glory, and worship Him that made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the fountains of waters. Every division of Babylon would be healed by the unity of that Gospel. Every putrid sore would have been washed and cleansed by the life of that Gospel. Churches that were dead in formalism would have been revived, the crystallizing, cramping, binding traditions of men would have fallen away, and the church would have stepped forth in all the glory and freedom of Pentecostal days, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners. But in the place of the fear of God has grown the fear of men; in the place of giving glory to God, glory is given to men; and in the place of the worship of God, men are worshiping the works of their own hands, and God is set aside. It is God's view of Babylon and her awful doom that is given in this chapter. We have not space nor time, in the finishing of this series, to dwell upon it. Its language we believe will be sufficiently plain to our readers without extensive notes. 1. In the judgment of Babylon, what further view was given the prophet? After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. Rev. 18:1. Note 1. 2. What message did that angel bear? And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird. For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness. Verses 2, 3. Note 2. 3. What voice did the prophet hear? And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, My people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double. Verses 4-6. Note 3. 4. What is said of the time and character of her judgment? How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her. Verses 7, 8. Note 4. 5. How will her doom affect the kings of the earth? And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Wo, wo, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. Verses 9, 10. Note 5. 6. How will it affect the merchants of the earth? And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more; merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men. And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; saying, Wo, wo, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl! for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. Verses 11-17. Note 6. 7. How will the masters of transportation be affected? And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off, and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city? And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Wo, wo, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Verses 17-19. Note 7. 8. What command is given to God's children? Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her. Verse 20. Note 8. 9. What graphic illustration is given of her eternal doom? And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth. Verses 21-24. Note 9. 1. ANOTHER ANGEL.—We have already found God's last great threefold message symbolized by three mighty angels flying through the midst of heaven. Rev. 14: 6-11. The fact that they are flying through heaven shows how quickly will go to the world that great message. There is not so much a manifestation of power in connection with it as there is of its rapid giving; that is, the symbols of the angels flying through heaven will show, first that it is a message which will be known by all — a message which will call the attention of all to its import, and that it will go to the world rapidly, and in harmony with the terms of that message, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. So this great threefold message is given. Beginning in 1844, it has reached nearly every mission field and country on the face of the earth. Carried by a small people, it has gone with a loud voice. Having behind it nothing of the power and influence and wealth of the world, it has called the attention of the people to the Word of God and the terms of the message, as no other message has since the days of the apostles. But it is also true that in harmony with the symbols, there has not been the great power manifest with it which hearts have longed for; but in the closing of that7 message there will be joined to it the movement represented by the angel of our lesson this week, all the messages swelling into the message of this last angel. This angel is not represented as flying through heaven, but coming down out of heaven, having great authority, and lightening the earth with his glory; that is, the power of this angel will be manifest in the lives and message borne by those who have accepted and are bearing the great threefold message. 2. FALLEN, F A L L E N.—God's children have been in Babylon through all the centuries, in the various divisions of the professed church of Christ. They have been the preserving salt of the body. In all the various schemes and plans and societies and organizations of men there have been true, faithful souls, living according to the best light which they have had, serving God according to their ability. But in the last generation the light of the Gospel will be so fully given to the world that men will be able to discriminate between the true and the false. Those in Babylon will see the character of Babylon. Babylon rejects the message which these bear. Babylon, by rejecting God's Spirit, opens her heart to receive the spirit of the evil one, and therefore becomes a habitation of demons, the hold of every unclean spirit, the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Consequently the fall beyond redemption. How such revelations as this are manifest again and again in outbreaking corruption in some circles! These instances of outbreaking corruption have become so common that they almost cease to excite comment. We are told, whenever such manifestations are seen, that these are indications of what may be found everywhere. God calls from these things. He would not have His people at His coming identified in any way with sin. He would not have them drunken with the wine of Babylon's fornication, for beyond the drinking of the wine lies wrath which is bound to come. 3. COME FORTH.—Therefore the call from heaven, the voice of Christ, "Come forth, My people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." It is not from some earthly organization to another earthly organization that God is calling; it is not a mere proselyting campaign that the heralds of Christ will carry forward in the closing years of God's work. It is a call from God to come out from everything that is sinful, everything that is low and base and evil and of a compromising character in any way, and to stand with Him; because "sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." The plagues which will fall upon the earth are simply the letting loose of the wrath which belongs to sin. 4. HER PLAGUES.—These plagues have already been noted in the past. Their time of falling is one prophetic day, or one year; and these plagues will fall when great Babylon sings her song of triumph, and feels that sure prosperity is hers forever; but that prosperity has been built upon apostasy, upon disobedience to God, upon the rejection of God's Word, upon the traditions of men. It is a word of eternal import which our Saviour gives us in Matthew, the close of the 7th chapter: "Every one that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof." Ringing out to the entire world as never before, in the last days of human probation, will be God's Gospel message, "able to save to the uttermost." That rejected means eternal ruin. This saying of our Lord is of eternal import: "Every plant which My heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up." Men have been sowing their own seed, placing poisonous plants in the vineyard of the Lord. When the Master of the harvest comes they shall be rooted up. This saying of the apostle is of eternal import: "For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." But Babylon has been building, not upon Christ — the Way, the Truth, the Life — but upon perversions of His truth. In the face of all these things God can do only what He has again and again said that He would do, — come to His own with His own glory, and punish sin and all identified with sin. While Babylon shall look over her great, world-wide federation, at the head of which will be the Papacy, situate, perhaps, in the city of the great King — the earthly Jerusalem — and will say, "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning;" or, in the words of the prophecy of Isaiah, "I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children," she by that very utterance pronounces her own doom. Now the Church of Rome is a widow; her relationship to the kings of the earth has been severed. When that time comes that the ten last confederated kings of earth shall have one mind and one heart to give their power and strength to the beast, that union will be restored; but that very union means the rejection of Christ. And in the very time when her song is sung, in one day — one year — shall her plagues come — "death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her." 5. THE KINGS OF THE EARTH — ONE HOUR.—The 17th chapter has told us that the last confederacy of nations would restore the beast power again, and that this beast power would continue for one hour. One hour in prophetic time is fifteen days — one twenty-fourth part of a year. If we were to reckon it by "twelve hours in the day," it would be one twelfth of a year, or thirty days. The prophecy indicates, if we read it aright, that there will come a time when all the nations of the earth will be bound in this great Babylon, that all the nations of the earth will place at the very head of all religion the Papacy, and that all will be united in placing her as the great mistress of the nations, restoring that power which she once possessed of defining heresy. But within one prophetic hour from that time that this power is possessed, the plagues fall. They shall come suddenly, as Isaiah declares in chapter 47: 9: "But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, and the great abundance of thine enchantments." These plagues are set before us in the 16th chapter of the Revelation. Then the very kings who have united together to give Babylon her place shall turn against her. And yet, as they see the utter desolation which their turning against her has wrought, they themselves shall weep and wail over her, and say, "Wo, wo, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come." 6. MERCHANDISE.—It is said of Satan, under the figure of the king of Tyre, in the 28th chapter of Ezekiel: "By the abundance of thy TRAFFIC they filled the midst of thee with violence." "By the multitude of thine iniquities, in the unrighteousness of thy TRAFFIC, thou hast profaned thy sanctuaries." And because of that unholy traffic it is said, "Therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of thee; it hath devoured thee, and I have turned thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee." The great city of Tyre was possessed of the same spirit of merchandise that is set forth in the 27th chapter of Ezekiel. Her traffickers were found everywhere, and she became so corrupt and so exalted that it became necessary that God should humble her. So great Babylon, which has been called "modern Tyre," not one city now, but a federation which takes in all the earth, shall deal in the same kind of traffic. How graphically is suggested the commercialism of the present day, the commercialism that overrides all honor, all integrity, a commercialism that seeks to possess all the nations of the earth, gather to itself every commodity in which men may deal, even to the bodies and souls of men, a commercialism which forgets God, and makes first the god of gold! All these are to a greater or less extent bound up in Babylon; and when the great combination falls, then are the individual merchants represented as saying, "Wo, wo, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl! for in one hour so great riches is made desolate." 7. SHIPMASTERS.—The great transportation facilities of ancient times were represented by ships. All land transportation was by beasts of burden, always in small quantities. The large quantities were moved by ships upon the sea, and therefore the ships stand for great transportation, masses of merchandise, large traffic of every character. They also are affected by the great fall of Babylon, and they say, "Wo, wo, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." Five times this "one hour" is mentioned in the book of Revelation. First as the hour during which time God's children will pass through the greatest tribulation, for against them is enlisted all of apostasy. Yet God promises to keep them, because they have kept the word of His patience. Rev. 3: 10. Secondly is the one hour of Revelation 17, during which time the kings of the earth "receive power one hour with the beast." Thirdly, three times in the chapter under consideration. At the close of that hour those who have been profited by Babylon shall say, "In one hour is all her prosperity ended, her riches come to naught, and she made desolate." The word "hour" may be used as an indefinite time when not modified; but when definitely modified, it refers to a definite time, as the "half hour" of Rev. 8: 1. We would not speak of a half of an indefinite time; the half hour limits the time to what is meant by a half hour. It is clear and definite. And so the term "hour," limited by a numeral adjective, means a definite time. Language is meaningless if this is not so. 8. REJOICE.—The awful doom of Babylon is the triumph of the children of God. It is worth while for us to turn from the sad and awful picture of judgment to the picture of deserved triumph, to look upon Babylon as God would have us look upon sin; for Babylon is the great aggregation of sin, the identification of systems with sin, and the system, world-wide and magnificent as it is, falls, because identified with sin; but through all the centuries of the past, that system has been oppressive, cruel, persecuting to the true people of God, the humble, the meek, the devoted, those who lifted voice against sin and all its wickedness. Now they can rejoice. "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her." That is the very judgment that she has rendered upon them — the sentence which she has pronounced upon them as innocent comes back in the infinite justice of God upon her. 9. FOUND NO MORE AT ALL.—God's universe shall be forever free from the specious devices of men which assume to save souls. The mighty angel casts the millstone into the sea, saying, "Thus shall it be with Babylon."8 The Revelation of Jesus Christ
All the beauty and all the glory is given — the music, the craftsmen, the industries, all have passed away. Her sorcery and deceptions are manifested, and the guilt of all the ages which she takes upon herself, by rejecting God's means of salvation, is found against her. Just the same as the Jewish church, by rejecting Christ, took upon her the blood of all the prophets that had been slain that proclaimed Christ's coming and character, just so the great Babylonian combinations of earth take upon themselves the guilt of all the world when they endorse the principles of the evil of the past and reject the only means of salvation in Christ. They have taken themselves outside of God's plan, and must necessarily perish. We plead with our readers, whoever they are, wherever they are, by whatsoever name they may be called, to turn from all traditions of men, from all things that are out of harmony with the teachings of the Word, from everything which would separate from the Lord Jesus Christ or make of none effect in their hearts His teaching, and yield themselves to Him, wholly to Him. He warns us beforehand, in order that we may be saved. He tells us the doom of Babylon, that we may not identify ourselves with Babylon. He tells us of the utter destruction of sin, that we may not be identified with the sin. All these warnings are given not to condemn some church, or some organization merely, or at all, but to show to just what such organizations will come that leave Christ out of their reckoning, and the awful doom which will await the individuals who identify themselves with them. If any of us are in this great Babylon which is depicted before us in this wonderful chapter, let us listen to the voice of God, "Come out of her, My people." Righteousness
By William Covert
THE word "righteousness" refers either to a right course of action, or a correct state of being. Primarily, righteousness proceeds from the Lord, as announced by the prophet when he said, "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee." Dan. 9: 7. Another said, "This is His name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness." Jer. 23: 6. It exists without having been created; for the psalmist says, "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness." Ps. 119: 142. And of God’s existence David writes, "From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." Ps. 90: 2. His righteousness and Himself are therefore together in the everlasting list, and are of endless duration. This is why David could say, "His righteousness endureth forever." Ps. 111: 3. And Daniel also said, concerning the work of redemption, that it would bring in everlasting righteousness. Dan. 9: 24. Solomon, speaking of the endless blessing that belongs with righteousness, says, "The righteous is an everlasting foundation." Prov. 10: 25. He declares also that "in the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Prov. 12: 28. The prophet, writing of its present and eternal blessedness, states that "the effect of righteousness" is "quietness and assurance forever." Isa. 32: 17. The Word of God affirms that "righteousness delivereth from death," and also that "the labor of the righteous tendeth to life." Prov. 10: 2, 16. It is clear, from the foregoing quotations, that righteousness and life are inseparable. Therefore if all men had always been righteous, no man would have died. It is also true that those persons who will have immortal life will live in perpetual conformity to righteousness. David, in speaking of the dwelling-place of righteousness, says its habitation is the throne where God sits. Ps. 97: 2. Therefore all that is devised, decreed, or approved by Him as He sits upon that throne must conform to righteousness. For "He shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness." Ps. 9: 8. It is also predicted of Christ’s kingdom that "righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins." Isa. 11: 5. Indeed, righteousness is the element of stability that makes solid the government of God. "For the throne [God’s throne] is established by righteousness." Prov. 16: 12. Concerning the reign of grace both here and hereafter it is written that grace will "reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 5: 21. It was righteousness that armed the Son of God for His conflict with the adversary when He was here in mortal flesh. Thus it was predicted of the battle, that "His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him." Isa. 59: 16. Righteousness also serves as a breastplate of protection for him who is called to battle with the powers of evil. "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness." It is an ensign of royalty upon the heads of the redeemed. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. 4: 8. At that time "shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. 13: 43. The love of righteousness and His opposition to iniquity is to Christ the means of everlasting gladness; for it is written of Him, "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Heb. 1: 9. And herein is the contrast between the righteous and wicked sharply drawn. The one loves righteousness, and the other hates it. Elymas the sorcerer was a person full of all subtilty and all mischief, a follower of the devil, an enemy of all righteousness. Acts 13: 10. In reference to God’s people the request is made, "Let Thy saints rejoice in goodness." 2 Chron. 6: 41. The redeemed from among men will be in character like their Saviour when they in- A Threefold View
By Arthur L. Manous
TRULY ours is an age when people patronize the moving picture shows to see the views there exhibited. But we often wonder if all who frequent these shows stop to behold the inspired pen picture of our Redeemer’s wounds which He received at His crucifixion. We have presented in the Sacred Scriptures three very distinct views of these wounds which our Saviour received on the cruel cross. The first is the prophetic view which was given the prophets long before the crucifixion occurred. This view is presented in such language as: “He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken.” “They pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me.” “And they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced.” See Ps. 34:20; 22:16, 17; Zech. 12:10. Another view of the Saviour’s wounds is that given by an inspired eye-witness who beheld in reality and literally the scene which the prophets saw only in vision. This testimony reads: “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:32-37. See also 1 John 5:6-8. The third view of Christ’s wounds is seen when the prophets are permitted to behold Him in glory as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” And when the final redemption is completed, the only reminder of sin will be the wounds which Christ will carry in His body. The prophets describe this third and glorified view in the following language: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.” “And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand; and there was the hiding of His power.” Rev. 1:7; Hab. 3:4. Of the expression, “He had horns coming out of His hand,” Mr. Scott says, “Or, as it may be rendered, ‘bright beams came forth from His side’ (margin).” And the American Revised Version reads: “He had rays coming forth from His hand,” or “at His side” (margin). With these thoughts, and the beautiful words of another, we leave this threefold view of Christ’s wounds with the reader: “Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory, ‘He had bright beams coming out of His side; and there was the hiding of His power’ (margin). That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to God,—there is the Saviour’s glory, there ‘the hiding of His power.’ ‘Mighty to save,’ through the sacrifice of redemption, He was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy. And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise, and declare His power.”—“Great Controversy,” page 674. Spartanburg, South Carolina. Back to the Bible
By Abram Herbert Lewis
THE Bible is the Protestant standard of faith and practise. In that Book the Sabbath question is neither obscure nor difficult. The fourth commandment stands in the heart of the Decalogue, and bears the signature of Jehovah as no other one of the commandments does. Christ’s teachings and example concerning the Sabbath are plain and unequivocal. They constitute His commandments on the Sabbath question, and He9 declares that those who love Him will keep His commandments. Men will not keep the Sabbath, nor any other day as the Sabbath, unless moved by love and guided by conscience. There was never any reason for interference on the part of the civil law, and the results of such interference are increasingly evil. Put the issue on the basis of the Bible, and let the behests of conscience direct, and Sunday laws will die a natural death. Wiser legislation ought to hasten their removal. Let us have protected rights to rest, and not enforced idleness on a specific day, under the false claim that not to remain idle on a particular period of twenty-four hours is a crime. This the evolution of Sunday law now demands.—A. H. Lewis, D.D., LL.D. O That Men Would!
By Flora E. Warren
O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Ps. 107:8. The heavens tell God's wondrous might;
The strength of Him who stretched them out;
The sun declares that "God is light,"
To every land the world about;
Night unto night shows "God is wise,"
Who formed the earth and sea and skies;
The heavens say that "God is good."
O that men would! The earth repeats the story o'er —
That "God is life," and "God is love;"
Each living breath, and ocean's roar,
Declare His praise, who reigns above.
The mountain heights proclaim Him King;
The little birds His goodness sing;
The blossoms praise Him, as they should.
O that men would! God waits to hear from men some word —
Some thankful word — and grateful song
Each day — as from each little bird;
He waits to hear — has waited long.
Each day men take from God above,
The wondrous tokens of His love.
Then praise His name, for He is good.
O that men would! herit the kingdom to reign with Him; for when He shall appear, they shall be like Him. 1 John 3:2. They too must love righteousness and hate iniquity if they are to be with Him. A Voice for the Lone Ones
By Helen M. Wilde
IN imagining our God-given lives, and in asking for the love and blessing that He is duly bestowing upon us—tho we are continually neglecting and grieving the Holy Spirit, yet He is tenderly holding out His hands in pity and in mercy, saying, “Come unto Me”—does it penetrate deep down in the heart, so that we can hear the echoes of voices calling from far Siberia for help? There are many souls there that have been unjustly banished, toiling away their lives from day to day, from sunrise until night. And it must seem an endless night to them as they toil on mid cold and bleakness; for it seems to me the sunlight never penetrates to gladden their hearts as they toil, dragging their chains and ball; for they are never free from their fetters, which wear and cut into their flesh. They can only groan with their pain. If they look up, think you they meet glances of love and sympathy? No, no; there is the lash that is added to their bleeding flesh. O that we could direct their gaze to a living, loving Saviour, that has borne many a stripe, and His tender flesh torn and pierced for them, for you and for me! If we could only tell them so! But dear brothers and sisters, we can pray for them. They are God’s creatures; and as one family, we would not forget our afflicted brothers and sisters. We know that God hears prayer. Those that suffer with Him will reign with Him.