p. 8 | Review and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 30. (7/23/1908)

Note and Comment

Immoral Books

THE evil which is being done by immoral books is beyond the power of any one to compute. That the danger is real, none can deny; that the moral fiber of old and young is being gradually debased by imbibing the noxious principles contained in such literature, is being demonstrated continually. It is even being recognized by those who sell this class of reading-matter. At the American Booksellers’ Association meeting held in New York the latter part of May, the following resolution was passed:—

Resolved, That, recognizing the responsibility of the booksellers in distributing the literature of the community, this association feels called upon at this time to use its influence to discourage the publication and sale of books of pronounced immoral plot and tone.

It is recognized that it is a very difficult matter to determine just what novels will fall under this proscribed class; and with many persons to learn that a certain book is not proper reading is to create an uncontrollable desire to know just how bad the book is so they can be able to warn others. There is only one safe course, and that is to avoid the novel as any other plague is avoided.

An Embarrassing Inconsistency

THE outlook for a better observance of Sunday does not seem encouraging even to those who are making earnest efforts to secure such legislation as will require at least an outward appearance of regard for the day. This feeling finds expression in the following editorial note in a recent issue of the United Presbyterian:—

There are many most discouraging facts for those who favor a quiet, restful, reverent observance of the sabbath. These are not alone that the railroads are running excursion trains, and parks and other resorts are inviting and enticing excursionists, though these things are bad enough, and are doing untold and incalculable injury, especially among the young, in producing impiety and irreverence. Worse than these, however, are the practises of many Christians, not a few of them recognized as “leading,” who on the slightest pretext, and often with no reason at all but their own comfort or convenience, use the various forms of public conveyance on the sabbath to travel from one point to another. Ministers are not guiltless in this matter. Agents of boards, and even editors, will travel many miles on sabbath, in order merely to be at a desired point Monday morning. It certainly dulls the edge of remonstrance and protest when such flagrant inconsistencies can be easily pointed to by any corporation or civil officer.

It certainly seems inconsistent to ask for a civil law requiring non-Christians to treat Sunday as a holy day, if those who profess to believe that the law of God requires the observance of the day as a sabbath themselves treat it as a common day. The simple fact is that the people are learning that there is no divine authority for Sunday-keeping, and this has its effect upon their conduct.

Principles and Practise

A READER of some of the literature which we have recently been putting out on the subject of religious liberty thinks that if we had opportunity, we would follow in the footsteps of all the other persecutors of dissenters. He expresses his opinion thus:—

I am in hearty agreement with you in the stand you take for religious freedom and the entire separation of church and state, and I am much pleased with the strong, clear argument you put forth in support of same. I must believe, however, that if you were in full control of this government, you would enforce the observance of the Sabbath as others have done and are doing.

We have repeatedly stated that we believe in liberty for the other man, in liberty not to believe and not to worship, and that we not only do not ask for any legal enactment which would enforce our own tenets, but that we should oppose any effort to secure legislation requiring any one to act in harmony with our belief. This is the only true platform of religious liberty, and upon this platform we stand. We know that the temptations of irresponsible power are very great, but we hope we should have sufficient grace not to repudiate all our sound principles at the first opportunity to oppress our neighbor.

Candidates for the Ministry

In all the great religious bodies of this country there has come to be an actual dearth of candidates for the ministry. Concerning this lack the editor of the Christian Advocate (Methodist) says:—

Much is said and written concerning the decreasing number of candidates for the ministry, and many theories have been advanced to account for the situation, which as yet has not become so serious a problem in the Methodist Episcopal Church as in others. Among us, however, it is increasingly felt, and there is reason to expect more serious trouble.

This condition is one that has become alarming in some of the denominations, and the editor of the Advocate admits the unpromising outlook among the Methodists; but he makes no statement as to the cause of this well-nigh universal dearth. It lies, without question, at the very door of the clerical body, and is due to the fact that Biblical criticism from the pulpit has taken the place very largely of real gospel sermons that stir the souls of men. The popular preaching of the day is unable to produce strong conviction, and press men into gospel service. More sermons are preached in this country on “civic righteousness” than on salvation through the righteousness of Christ. Reforming the state has come to be a more popular slogan than reformation in the individual soul, and before the young man with noble impulses the glory of political position and public service in the temporalities is made to outshine the glory of the kingdom of Christ. Through this failure of the minister to apprehend the true business of the minister, and through the doubts engendered in the minds of the laity by criticism of the Book of God by him who was set to expound its teachings, the sacred calling of the ministry is belittled, the gospel misrepresented, and the world’s allurements are winning many young men who might have been a power for God. “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel of Christ,” said Paul. Men who feel as Paul did will preach Christ.

Kept

By William Laurie Hill

'Tis sweet to know I am the Father's child, Whate'er betide; E'en though around me swirls an ocean wild, His hand doth guide.

Kept, safely kept, why should my heart know fear? He watcheth me. He only would his tim'rous child draw near, His grace to see.

We stand amid the storm on mountain-side, The lightning's glare; The thunders roar o'er valleys far and wide, Faith would despair.

But to our fearsome hearts is whispered, “Kept,” Nor need we dread; For though our world be torn and tempest-swept, Hope is not dead.

Kept by the power of God, along life's way, Faith triumphs still; Strength to each soul, according to our day, To do his will.

—William Laurie Hill.

An Appeal to Ministers

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE

The Lord has instructed me to say to his people that he demands a deeper consecration on their part, in every conference, in every church, in every household. Said the messenger: Speak to the leading men, saying, You should give to the people an example of what may be done by the human agent in holy living by coming into close relation to God. Do all in your power to send home the messages of warning that have been given. Wake up the watchmen; for their unbelief has paralyzed the efforts of many who would become workers.

“As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. “But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” I repeat this. Many among professedly Christian teachers and pious men are not such at heart. They will have not been purifying their souls by obeying the truth. And because the religious experience of many has been only a profession, meat has not been given in due season, and God has been greatly displeased. Blessed is that servant, the Lord declares, whom his Lord when he comes shall find faithful. “Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This lesson is being fulfilled all around us and right in our midst. In the indifference and boasting of men and women to-day, the words of the evil servant are being repeated, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” In our large cities every kind of wickedness imaginable is being revealed, and yet among the masses, yes, even among the scoffers, there are some who are listening for the trumpet to give the signal of alarm. But they listen in vain. The appropriate warnings have not been given. Is it not high time that the messengers should awake, and give the warning message that is to prepare the world for the judgments that are right upon us?

Let there be an awakening, and heartfelt confessions of sin. Let there be a seeking after God. Let the shepherds throw off the lethargy that is upon them. Wake up, brethren, for Christ’s sake wake up! Let earnest, organized efforts be made that light may go forth to those in darkness, who are eating and drinking with those who are befogged with skepticism.

Our sinful condition of lukewarmness has been coming on for years. We are far behind in following the instructions given to enter the cities, and erect memorials for the cause of present truth. For many years the instruction has been repeated to us regarding the work to be done in the cities; yet there seems to be a deathlike slumber upon many ministers and people. There are a few who have been doing all in their power, but the burden of this work has not been borne upon the hearts of our people; they are not urged to co-operate, and to set in order the things that remain, that are ready to die.

At our meetings held in the cities, and at our camp-meetings, we do not ask for great demonstrations, but we ask that the men who come before the people to present the truth shall be in earnest, and shall reveal that God is with them. There must be a special seeking after God, that the work of the meeting may be carried on under the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. There must be no mingling of the wrong with the right. In the past we have had abundant evidence that God will work through those who place themselves wholly on his side; and this evidence will again be given. We must have at our camp-meetings Christians of the class of whom it was said, “Ye are the light of the world.” “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Those who seek the Lord in humility of heart will be uplifted and refreshed.

Avoid the Errors of the Past

Those who take hold of the work at this time are not to repeat the mistakes that have been made in the past, when men have sought to control and rule their fellow workers. God forbids that this spirit shall come into his work. Another message than this is to be borne. Those who have felt a burden to place yokes on the necks of their brethren who desired to labor, are called upon to repent and be converted. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” The message of the third angel is to go forth with a loud voice. Wake up the watchmen; leave them not to settle back in their death-like slumber.

By words and works some have declared, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and the thief is preparing to steal in and destroy their goods. O that our brethren would awake to the situation! Every presentation possible may be made to them, but unless the plowshare of truth shall plow up the fallow ground of the heart, there will be no thorough work done. Hearts that are hard will not be broken until there is deep and sincere repentance. Unless there is a thorough reconversion, some will fall back into the same ways that have been followed for the past eight years.

A Word to the Wavering

Of those who are constantly working to undermine faith in the message God is sending to his people, I am instructed to say, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate.” Come into the light, brethren, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those who in faith accept the leadings of the Spirit of God will see where their dangers lie, and will make decided moves in the right direction.

There are some who have not accepted the messages God has sent, and these have sown the seeds of unbelief until tares have sprung up and multiplied. Those who themselves have a tottering faith are constantly working to weaken

the faith of those who come within the reach of their influence. Those who have stood directly in the way of the work of God for the past fifteen years, are not to be sustained or given influence.

Now, brethren and sisters, is your time to obtain an experience that will be invaluable to you in the future. But there can be no compromise. Those who desire to be accepted as workers in the future of this cause, must advance step by step heavenward. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Forty

By John Norton Loughborough

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH

There are many things stated in the Scriptures connected with the number forty. There were more than forty men who bound themselves with an oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. Acts 23:12, 13. If they kept their oath, they must long since have died of starvation; for Paul escaped their evil designs. Then there is Paul’s statement that five times of the Jews he “received forty stripes save one.” 2 Cor. 11:24.

The rain at the time of the flood continued for forty days and forty nights. Gen. 7:12. Twice Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights, receiving the law and statutes from the Lord. Ex. 24:18. Forty days the spies searched the land of Canaan. Num. 13:25. Forty days and nights Elijah went in the strength of food provided by the angel of God. 1 Kings 19:4, 8. Jonah’s preaching at Nineveh was, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4. Forty days was the time of our Saviour’s fast in the wilderness, followed by those fierce temptations of Satan. Matt. 4:2. After the Lord’s resurrection he was seen more or less, for forty days before his ascension to heaven. Acts 1:3.

We have also account of many events connected with a period of forty years. When Moses was forty years old, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Heb. 11:24. This shows that in that time forty years was the age in life when one became his own master, to speak for himself. We have the account of the forty years of Moses’ life as a shepherd, and the forty years of his leading of Israel through the wilderness. In the warfare of the nations against Israel, there was a period of forty years when they had rest under the reign of Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother. Judges 3:10. Forty years the land had rest after the overthrow of the Midianites, who were thrown into consternation by the sound of the trumpets of Gideon, the flash of the lamps, and the mighty shout of his three hundred men, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.” Judges 7:18. There was forty years’ rest after the conquest of Barak against Sisera, who gained his victory by following the counsel of Deborah the prophetess. Judges 5:7. Then we have the account of the deliverance of Israel into the hands of the Philistines for forty years, because of the evils which they had wrought. Judges 13:1. Then there was Eli’s forty years’ reign, closing with his death, which was hastened by the slaughter of his two unrestrained sons, and the loss of the ark. 1 Sam. 4:15-18.

Saul reigned for forty years, and then for disobeying the Lord, and for consulting with a familiar spirit, he was slain in battle. 1 Chron. 10:13, 14; Acts 13:21. Saul was succeeded by King David, who also reigned for forty years. 1 Kings 2:11. His reign was followed by that of his son, King Solomon, who reigned “over all Israel in Jerusalem” for forty years. 1 Kings 11:42. There is also the account of King Jehoash (called Joash in 2 Chron. 24:1), who reigned forty years in Jerusalem, and “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoida the priest instructed him.” 2 Kings 12:1, 2. But alas! in his last days he poorly requited Jehoida; for he slew his sons. During the reign of David there is a period of forty years mentioned (1 Kings 2:11), at the expiration of which Absalom entered into a conspiracy against his father’s kingdom. 2 Sam. 15:7, 10, 11. For forty years the Lord made the land of Egypt utterly desolate, from the tower of Syene, even unto the border of Ethiopia, because they said, “The river is mine, and I made it.” Eze. 29:8-12. Still further on is mentioned the forty years Israel had “borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chion your images, the star of your God, which ye made to yourselves.” For this cause they were taken “into captivity beyond Damascus.” Amos 5:25-27.

There is still another period of forty years, as I write, which is nearer. It is connected with the planting and rise of the third angel’s message on the Pacific Coast. It is just forty years to-day (July 19, 1908) since Elder D. T. Bourdeau and myself, with our wives and my son, first set foot on California soil in San Francisco, from the deck of the steamer “Golden City,” for the purpose of opening up the work in this field. There were not at that time half a dozen persons west of the Rocky Mountains that were in full sympathy with present truth. Now, in the Pacific Coast field, there are two union conferences, comprised of nine organized conferences and two missions. There are two hundred fifty-three churches, with 12,314 members. In these conferences there are one hundred eleven ordained ministers, forty-four licentiates, and eighty-nine who hold missionary license. For the preparation of workers we have two colleges, one academy, five intermediate schools, and scores of church-schools. Connected with this educational work there are eighty-seven teachers.

Then there is the medical and health work, which “occupies the same relation to the message as the right hand and arm to the body.” There are five large sanitariums under conference control. Connected with these are eleven graduated physicians, one hundred sixty-six nurses, and one hundred twenty-two other helpers. Beside this, there are nine sanitariums managed as individual enterprises. In these are twelve graduated physicians, and over thirty nurses.

Then there is a strong, well-organized publishing house, furnishing material to hundreds of the “King’s Messengers” to introduce in the homes of the people. We do not speak of what has been accomplished with any spirit of boasting. We realize to some extent that, had there been that devotion to the work that the message and times demand, and more of a trust in the Lord’s power to accompany the efforts put forth, far greater results would now be apparent. But with the facilities now in hand, if the workers go forth in the strength of Israel’s God, looking to him for his power to carry on the work, he using us as his instruments, soon it could be said of the work on the Pacific Coast, “It is done.”

Healdsburg, Cal.

The Book of Daniel

By Editor

The Gospel of the Kingdom

THE EDITOR

By the incarnation of Christ, provision was made for establishing the everlasting kingdom of God upon earth. By taking our flesh, the eternal Son established in himself a personal union between divinity and humanity, and brought the gift of eternal life within reach of every member of the human family through his fellowship with Christ. This is the fundamental truth in the gospel of the kingdom, which is set forth with clearness in various scriptures. Thus we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” “That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” “By his life and his death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan’s purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages he is linked with us. ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.’ He gave him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; he gave him to the fallen race.

To assure them of his immutable counsel of peace, God gave his only begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain his human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfil his word. . . . In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together.” This is the mystery of the kingdom of God; and the secret which was revealed to Daniel in the night vision was the outworking of this divine principle in the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God.

That which distinguishes the fifth kingdom from those which preceded it is found in the remarkable statement, “It shall stand forever.” Daniel foretold to King Nebuchadnezzar the downfall of his own kingdom, the rise and fall of three successive kingdoms after his, and then the setting up of the kingdom “which shall never be destroyed.” Evidently this everlasting kingdom is to be set up here upon the earth, and, plainly, its subjects are composed of members of the same human family as composed the four preceding kingdoms. The good news of this wonderful fact and how it is to be accomplished, constitutes the great theme of the gospel of the kingdom.

The Promises to David

Through the prophet Nathan promises were made to David which bear the closest relation to that which was revealed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The word of the Lord came thus: “Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. . . . And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.” Here the house of David and the kingdom of David are joined together in the same promise, and the everlasting continuance of both is assured. In his response to this wonderful message, David in his prayer to Jehovah said: “And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it forever, and do as thou hast spoken. And let thy name be magnified forever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee. For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever.”

The Blessing of Forgiveness

That which prevents the continuance of any house, or family, is death. The cause of death is sin. “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin.” “The wages of sin is death.” The eternal Son of God joined himself to the human family as the Son of David, and became one with its members in all experiences common to humanity, but without sin. He was, therefore, able to establish, or build, a house, or family, which should continue forever. But the condition of membership in this house, or family, must be freedom from sin. This is the blessing for which David prayed, in asking, “Let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee.” This was the blessing vouchsafed to Abraham in the gospel promise concerning which the apostle Peter declared to the people: “Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.” Concerning this same blessing of freedom from sin, David declared: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity.”

The Priest-king

It is thus evident that in establishing a house, or a kingdom, which shall stand forever, provision must be made for the removal of sin and for the destruction of the enemy, death; and the head of this family, or kingdom, must be both priest and king—a priest-king. Of the kingship of the eternal Son there is abundant evidence. Of him Jehovah says: “Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” And the psalmist continues: “I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Pilate, therefore, wrote better than he knew when he placed upon the cross the title, “The King of the Jews.” Of the priesthood of the Son, it was declared through David, “The Lord sware, and will not repent: thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The great difference between this priesthood and that exercised by the sons of Levi is disclosed in these words: “And they indeed have been made priests many in number because that by death they are hindered from continuing: but he, because he abideth [continueth] forever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.” The practical meaning of his everlasting continuance in its relation to salvation from sin is further declared: “Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

A Brief Summary

The facts concerning the setting up of the everlasting kingdom may be briefly summarized thus: (1) The eternity of the kingdom depends upon the eternity of the being of the Son of God, the head of the kingdom; (2) the eternity of the kingdom involves the gift of eternal life to the subjects of the kingdom; (3) eternal life is brought within the reach of the human family by the gift of the eternal Son to become one with the human family; (4) the Son is able to establish the house, or kingdom, which will stand forever, because of his victory over sin and death; (5) the members of this household, or kingdom, must be freed from sin, since sin means death, and death would prevent the continuance of the house, or kingdom; (6) the blessing of the forgiveness of sin is made possible through the gift of the eternal Son; (7) eternal salvation from sin is ministered through the priesthood of him who “abideth [continueth] forever,” and “ever liveth to make intercession.” This is the outline of the gospel of the kingdom. Not one of these essential facts can be set aside without vitiating that gospel. To deny the incarnation, or to reject the gift of life only through Christ, or to refuse the benefits of his atonement, or to take away his ministry as priest, perpetuates sin, and prevents the setting up of the everlasting kingdom.

Building on the Rock

From what has been stated, the conclusion will be readily drawn that the house of David, which was to be established forever, is the house of God; and the apostle Paul defines “the house of God” as the “church of the living God.” Concerning the building of this house, or church, of God, and its everlasting continuance, we learn from the words of Jesus: “Now when Jesus came into the parts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter [Gr. Petros], and upon this rock [Gr. petra] I will build my church; and the gates of Hades [i. e., death] shall not prevail against it.” That which enables the house of God, the church, to triumph over death, and to continue forever, is the fact that its members are the members of the body of him, who, while the Son of man, is also “the Son of the living God;” and in this mystery of the incarnation is found the secret of the everlasting continuance of those who have responded to the call “into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Grace and Glory

We must now distinguish between the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory. The kingdom of grace was established when the gospel was first proclaimed in the promise of the seed that

should bruise the serpent’s head. The kingdom of glory will be established when all the tribes of the earth “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” It was the establishment of the kingdom of glory which Daniel predicted in the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and for this the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is the preparation. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.”

No Temporal Millennium

The time of the setting up of the kingdom was not definitely stated by Daniel, further than that it should be “in the days of those kings.” The attention of Nebuchadnezzar was directed to what shall be “in the latter days,” and the great fact announced in the interpretation of the dream was that in those latter days the God of heaven should set up a kingdom, which should stand forever. The more definite time when this kingdom would be set up must be learned from other prophecies. It is plain, however, that it is not to be accomplished by a slow process, in which truth is gradually to supersede error, and righteousness is little by little to take the place of sin. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation positively forbids any such view as this. The stone “smote the image upon its feet.” The result was that “then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them.” Corresponding to this description are the words of the psalmist: “Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Those conditions will be met not in the gradual conversion of the world, but in the sudden destruction of the nations that have rejected God.

In the face of such predictions there is no place found for a temporal millennium. It is not declared that the gospel will be preached to convert the world, but “for a testimony unto all the nations;” and according to the statement of the apostle Paul, “When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” This destruction is foretold by the apostle Peter in these words: “The day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” The conversion of the world is a false hope. The destruction of the world at the second advent of our Lord is an impending event, in harmony with Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

In This Generation

In this day, when the essential principles of the gospel of the kingdom are being denied, and the gospel of “civic righteousness” is being substituted for it, there is great need that the dream of Nebuchadnezzar should be interpreted anew to all the world, and that the great truth of the setting up of the kingdom which shall stand forever should be emphasized. The people are being told that it is the true mission of the church to prepare for citizenship in this world rather than to prepare for that kingdom which the God of heaven will set up. A mighty voice should now be heard proclaiming to the remotest corners of the earth, that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;” that the great event predicted by Daniel in his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is just upon us; and that in this generation “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which . . . shall stand forever.”

Man's Excuses and God's Commands

By H. A. ROBINSON

H. A. ROBINSON

MANY men and women, when shown the truth of God's Word, make excuses as to their inability to comply with the plain demands of Jehovah, their Creator. When presented with the truth of the Sabbath, they make some of the excuses I have given below, and you will notice that the Lord caused the answers to them to be written hundreds of years before these persons were born.

1. The Sabbath is the day for the Jews.

“But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Ex. 20:10.

2. The old law is done away.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law; . . . I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matt. 5:17.

3. This law was nailed to the cross.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, . . . nailing it to his cross.” Col. 2:14.

4. We have nothing to do with the law of Moses.

“Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely?” Jer. 7:9.

5. We are now under grace.

“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom. 6:15.

6. Christ made us free from the law.

“But he [Christ] answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?” Matt. 15:3.

7. It is not the custom to keep Sabbath in this country.

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Ex. 23:2.

Then there is a class that accept the truth that the seventh-day Sabbath should be kept, but they are lacking in faith, and so they make some of these excuses:—

1. All my friends will leave me.

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14.

2. All my relatives will leave me.

“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20.

3. My father and mother will forsake me.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” Ps. 27:10.

4. I have no family. Who will help me if I give up my employment?

“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; . . . he shall dwell on high: . . . bread shall be given him; his water shall be sure.” Isa. 33:15, 16.

5. It will interfere with my business.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Matt. 16:26.

6. I shall not be able to earn any money.

“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:8.

7. I shall lose my present situation.

“Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Prov. 27:1.

8. My parson and church teach me to keep Sunday.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.

9. I shall be hissed when going to church on Saturday.

“Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment.” Isa. 51:7, 8.

10. I will keep one day out of the seven.

“But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Ex. 20:10.

11. God will excuse me if I can not do better.

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received a knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Heb. 10:26.

12. But your people are illiterate.

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” 1 Cor. 1:27.

13. I will keep every day holy.

“Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Ex. 20:9, 10.

Tampico, Mexico.

Christ Unites True Friends

WHEN Jesus comes between true friends, he does not separate, but he unites them. Some tell us that we must not love our dear ones too much, lest we make God jealous, and he take them away. This is only pagan teaching. He who had the best right to speak on this subject had a very different idea. He said, if you can not love your fellows on earth, how can you love your Father in heaven? The Master always stands between real friends, but ever to bring them closer. Formerly the ocean separated the continents, now it connects them. As we get to know more of the purpose of the Lord in our lives, we see that he alone makes great and abiding affection possible.—Sunday School Times.

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