p. 464 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 7, No. 39. (10/13/1881)

ANGLO-ISRAEL CRAZE.

By Editor

Some weeks since, we made some comments on an article which claimed that the Anglo-Saxons are the "lost ten tribes" of Israel. Rev. C. R. N. Lyne, of Exeter, England, kindly sends us articles by himself and Mr. Mushet on the same subject. The articles would lose much of their interest if published here, as they are controversial, and refer to men and writings known but to few of our readers. There are some points, however, so forcibly put that they will be appreciated by all. In a communication to the Cheltenham Evening Telegram, Mr. Mushet says:—

"Scripture tells us, that the scepter shall not depart from Judah, 'till Shiloh come.' Now Shiloh was the name of a place, and Shiloh is also, an adjective, signifying 'peaceful.' But that the expression, 'till Shiloh come,' means Christ's first advent, no one will dispute. Now at the Crucifixion, Pilate prophetically ordered the inscription, 'This is Jesus, the King of the Jews,' to be written up in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, and Pilate refused to qualify this inscription, to please the Jews. So Jesus was thus proclaimed to the world, as King of the Jews, and therefore the holder of the scepter of the house of Judah. The Anglo-Israelites have, however, dethroned him, the Omega, and therefore last King, and have placed his scepter in the hands of our British Queen. I do not suppose that the infatuated Anglo-Israelites intentionally blaspheme; far from it; but this doctrine is rank blasphemy, and nothing else."

That must be so. If the Anglo-Israelites are correct, Queen Victoria is a usurper, ruling a people over whom Jesus has the sole right to reign. It has been accepted by all Christians as an argument in favor of the right of Christ that Israel yielded to the behests of Providence, and laid aside their genealogical claim to a king from the time of Jesus of Nazareth. But the Anglo-Israelites have reversed that by turning the British kings into kings of the Jews. Again the same writer says:—

"Anglo-Israelites affirm that the English people are the Hebrew tribe of Ephraim; that the Irish are the tribe of Dan, and the Americans the tribe of Manasseh. I now proceed to the reductio ad absurdum, which necessarily follows, when these assertions are examined into.

"Statistics show that of the forty millions of people in the United States, about ten millions are Irish, or of Irish descent. Quite ten millions more are Germans, Dutch, Swedes, Danes, Russians, and Spaniards, or descended from these. Now these are not Manassehites; neither are the Irish, for they are Danites. Next there are more than five millions of negroes, and mulattoes. These, the Anglo-Israelites affirm, are Hamites; and therefore not Manassehites. Lastly, there are a few millions of Red Indians. These are held by Anglo-Israelites to be Japhetites, in course of being improved off the face of the earth by the tribe of Manasseh. In reality, they are being extirpated by the rifles, the spirit casks, and the loathsome diseases of the Anglo-Saxon race. The same process is in full play, under the same rule in New Zealand. Be that as it may, if the red men are Japhetites, they cannot be Shemites, and are therefore not Manassehites. The residuum, consequently—the ten or twelve millions out of the forty millions of inhabitants of the American States—must be the tribe of Manasseh, if there be really any such tribe there. Now this residuum is made up of English people, or the descendants of the English people, who colonized America, crossing over from England to America. But the English people are the tribe of Ephraim, therefore these colonists were Ephraimites, and their descendants are therefore likewise, Ephraimites, and cannot be Manassehites. Where, then, is the tribe of Manasseh in America? And echo answers, Where? If, then, the Anglo-Israelites are correct in affirming the Americans to be the tribe of Manasseh, it follows that merely crossing the Atlantic converts a child of Ephraim into a child of Manasseh, and conversely, a Manassehite into an Ephraimite! These preposterous views beat hollow the childish babble and transparent absurdities of the Evolutionists, who hold that, only allow sufficient time, and a frog will evolve an ape, and an ape will leave off his tail, and wear trousers, and evolve a man; or a tenpenny nail may evolve a locomotive engine."

In an article in the same paper, Mr. Lyne refers to the same point, and says:—

"Let them be thoroughly consistent, and make it in future an article of their faith, that all sea-captains who cross the Atlantic are of Ephraim whenever they leave Liverpool, but sons of Manasseh as soon as their ships are safely at anchor at New York. This would only involve a change of parentage twice a month."

This "Anglo-Israel Craze," as it is well styled by these writers, has earnest advocates in Great Britain, but has not much following this side of the Atlantic. We see nothing in the theory but useless vagaries.

THE CHANGE OF THE SABBATH.

By John Nevins Andrews

TEXT: "The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law and make it honorable." Isa. 42:21.

"And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. 7:25.

THE first of these prophecies relates to the work of Christ; the second relates to that of Antichrist. Each of these works pertains to the law of God. No one will dispute that the first of these prophecies predicts what Christ will do to the law of his Father. That Antichrist is the agent presented in the second prophecy, all are agreed. The nature of the work here attributed to him shows conclusively that the laws which he should think to change are those of God. It is a part of his work against the Most High. 1. He shall speak great words against the Most High. 2. He shall wear out the saints of the Most High. 3. He shall think to change times and laws. And the prophecy adds, "They shall be given into his hands" for a certain period of time.

The nature of the work of this wicked power as here represented by Daniel, clearly determines whose the times and laws are which he shall think to change. It is a part of his warfare against the cause of God. He blasphemes the name of God, he wears out his saints, and he thinks to change his law. And this is rendered yet more evident by the form of expression used. It does not say, "He shall change times and laws." He actually performs the work in the matter of blasphemy and of persecution. But when we come to the changing of the law, it is said, "He shall THINK to do it. How evident that he could not do this in reality. He could blaspheme God; he could wear out his saints; but he could not change the law of God. He thinks himself able to do this, which is, indeed, the very language of the Douay Bible. How expressive, therefore, is this language of the Holy Spirit. He shall think to do it. Were these the laws of men, there would be no propriety in saying, "He shall think to change" them; for he could change them in reality, and to his heart's content. And, indeed, there would be no propriety in introducing the laws of men into such a connection. It is the warfare of Antichrist against the name, and saints, and laws, of the God of Heaven that is the theme of this prophecy.

This great Antichrist is the papal power. Of this there can be no just doubt. The four beasts of Daniel 7, are in that chapter explained to be the four great kingdoms that have successively ruled the whole world. The ten horns of this fourth beast are the ten kingdoms into which the fourth empire is divided. The little horn arises in the midst of these ten kingdoms, a different power from these, ruled by a priest-king, and warring against the cause of God. Paul, in 2 Thess. 2, presents us this great monster of iniquity as that "man of sin," and as "that wicked," "whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming." He tells us, moreover, that the mystery of iniquity had, even in his time, begun to manifest itself, but that it was restrained by the existing hindrances, i. e., by the pagan government that then controlled the world. Several hundred years of apostasy and rebellion against God were necessary to develop and mature this "man of sin," before he was able to fill the place assigned to him in the prophecy of Daniel. Many acts of rebellion against God, and of wicked and blasphemous conduct toward his law, may, therefore, justly be expected of this great apostasy long before it reaches the place where it can stand up in the midst of the ten kingdoms of the fourth empire, in fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, to war against God, his law, and his saints.

Here are the actors in these two prophecies—Christ and Antichrist. Their character is not more unlike than is their work. One shall magnify the law and make it honorable; the other shall think himself able to change it. One shall act in perfect subjection to its precepts; the other shall deem himself superior to the law, and able to change it to suit his own purpose. The work of Christ has no connection with that of Antichrist. The work of changing the law of God is wrought alone by Antichrist. In this work the Son of God has no part.

It is the work of Christ to magnify the law and make it honorable. Our Lord did this when he testified that not one jot or one tittle should pass from it till heaven and earth should pass away. He did it when he taught that those who do and teach the commandments should be highly esteemed in the kingdom of heaven, and those who break them and teach men so should not be thus esteemed. Matt. 5:17-19. He magnified the law when he showed that it extends even to the intents of the heart. Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28. He also magnified the law when he founded the golden rule upon it. Matt. 7:12. In like manner he mentions the condition of entering eternal life. Matt. 19:17. He did it when he taught that any worship which makes void God's commandments is vain in his sight. Matt. 15:1-9. He did not only magnify the law by such teaching as all this; he did it by his acts. 1. He kept the law of God in every particular. 1 John 3:4, 5. And well he might, for this law was written upon his heart. Ps. 40:8, 10. And yet, by something greater than all this did he honor the law of God. He took the sins of men upon himself, and let the law of God strike him down in the place of the sinner. And by this act he attested his sense of the absolute perfection of the law, and that it was unchangeable and eternal.

Such was the work of Christ toward the law of the Father. There is no fellowship between him and the man of sin, and no connection between the work of the one, and that of the other respecting the law of God. Whatever, therefore, is done by way of striking down the law of God, or changing it, pertains solely to Antichrist, and not in any degree, or in any sense, to the Son of God. The following propositions are worthy of the attention of all thoughtful persons:-

It was no part of the work of Christ to change the law of God.
It was his express mission to magnify the law of his Father.
The record given in the New Testament shows not one trace of changing the commandments of God on the part of the Saviour.
But it does show that by his doctrine, his obedience, and his death, he did in the highest degree magnify the moral law.
The change of God's law is the work of Antichrist alone; and with that change Christ has no connection.
The apostasy which produced this Antichrist began, according to Paul's testimony, in the days of the apostles.
We may, therefore, expect to find early traces of the grand heresy which distinguishes Antichrist; viz., the doctrine of the change of the law of God, or of its repeal.
In the beginning, the work of apostasy pertained to efforts to change or set aside the second and the fourth commandments as ceremonial; but when the power of Antichrist had reached its greatest height, he was declared to be able to change even virtues into vices, and vices into virtues.

J. N. A.

(To be continued.)

THE CAUSE IN CALIFORNIA.

By S. N. Haskell

I ARRIVED in Oakland the first of last week, just before the paper went to the press. I was glad to meet with the friends on the coast after an absence of a few months, and more especially was I made to rejoice to learn of the prosperity of the cause here. I find at the office, that the changes which have been brought about under the management of Bro. White have added much to its prosperity. But these changes could have accomplished but little had it not been for faithful co-laborers with him in the work, backed up by the prayers and sympathies of faithful friends throughout the State.

The favor God has given this institution in the eyes of leading business men, especially in San Francisco, is a fact worthy of a most honorable mention. Truly God is good to his people in California.

There is no reason why the Publishing Association on the Pacific coast should not be as prosperous and as strong an institution as any among Seventh-day Adventists; one from which the rays of light from the truth of God may find their way to the islands of the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand, Australia, and to every portion of the civilized world. Our brethren and sisters who have faithfully labored in the missionary cause, by personal efforts and the giving of their means, will never know the results of these efforts until the angels of God are sent to gather together the elect from the four corners of the earth. Then it will be said, “I know thy works.” “Well done thou good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” And upon the heads of those who have been faithful, will be placed a crown with stars representing souls saved by the sacrificing efforts put forth.

The results of the labors of those in the ministry are also encouraging. God has blessed their efforts, and many, we trust, have been brought to a saving knowledge of the truth.

While we consider the prospering hand of God in many respects, and feel grateful to see so much interest manifested as has been, to sustain the different branches of the work, there are some things we should never lose sight of.

Our work is an aggressive one. The time never will come when the people of God will not be called upon to make sacrifices, and put forth arduous efforts to carry forward the work of God. On the contrary, it will require greater sacrifices, more earnest efforts, and increased devotion to the one common cause of our divine Lord. While there are scores and hundreds embracing the truth, they should be instructed to take stock in our Publishing Association on the Pacific coast. The Association is not free from embarrassment by any means. It is paying interest on large sums of money. Many connected with it are laboring for scarcely an allowance sufficient to meet the needs of themselves and families. This is done cheerfully, that the institution, owned and supported by our brethren, may prosper. Every week there should appear in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES a list of names of those who have not heretofore taken stock in the Association, taking from one to ten shares each. This would show a conversion to the cause of God, as well as to the theory of his work. And why should not our Publishing Association on the Pacific coast be remembered by those who have the means, while they are doing so liberally for that at Battle Creek?

Our ministers should have a liberal support. Says the apostle Paul: “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.” He then adds: “Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written; that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.” He then makes an application of this: “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” 1 Cor. 9:9–14.

The tenth of man’s income God claims as his, and to be used for the maintenance of his work. It is from this source the ministers are supported. And each family and individual should regard the tithe of their income as sacred as the Sabbath of the Lord. One is the Lord’s as much as the other. One pertains to the time, the other to the means, God has given us.

Our pledges, or vows, to the cause of God, are also sacred. They are made to God, and not to man; and God has stated most clearly how he regards them, and those who hold them loosely. See Deut. 23:21–23; Ps. 66:13, 14; Prov. 20:25; Eccl. 5:4–6; Mal. 3:8, 9, Acts 5:1–10. If the tithe of our income, and our vows to God, are kept sacredly, then we secure to ourselves moral power and an integrity of soul, which God will approve, and we also place ourselves in the way of God’s blessing. Mal. 3:10, 11.

Our camp-meeting is right upon us. At this meeting, we expect a larger gathering of our people in California than has ever before been since the truth came to this coast. Shall we not expect, at this meeting, an outpouring of God’s Spirit, such as we never have experienced in the past? If so, shall we not come to the meeting, according to the instruction God has given to his people, be prepared to redeem our vows to God, and “none appear before him empty?” Ex. 23:15, 16; 34:20, 21, 22; Deut. 16:14–16; Acts 10:2.

Come to this feast, brethren and sisters, seeking God with all the heart, and none will go from the place barren, and feeling God has not met them and blessed them. Let us then prove the Lord, as he requests us to, and see if he will not pour us out a blessing until there is not room enough to receive it. Bring with you your unconverted children and neighbors, and labor for their salvation, and God will not disappoint us. S. N. HASKELL.

UNCERTAIN TRUMPETINGS.

By E. J. Waggoner

BY E. J. WAGGONER.

THERE is nothing that can work so much injury to any cause, as the inconsiderate zeal of its professed friends. Its enemies may circulate false reports, and misrepresent it, but these can injure only for a time; but when the professed friends of a cause misrepresent it, no matter how zealous they may be, the result cannot fail to be damaging. Especially is this true with respect to Bible truths. A great responsibility rests upon those who take upon themselves the task of teaching the people. Earnestness and zeal are commendable, but care should be taken that the zeal be “according to knowledge.”

The apostle Paul, in seeking to impress upon the Corinthians the necessity of clearness in all their attempts to teach, said: “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” This was written with direct reference to those who spoke in an unknown tongue, which could not edify the hearers; but it may with equal propriety be applied to those who teach that which is manifestly inconsistent.

No cause has suffered more from “uncertain sounds” than the Advent cause. Many professed believers in it seem to spend their time as did the ancient Athenians, “either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” They have repeatedly set the time for the Lord to come, and have projected vague and indefinite theories in regard to the prophecies, till with many the word “Adventist” is a synonym for “visionary fanatic.”

In a late number of the World’s Crisis, there appeared a novel exposition of the prophecy in Rev. 14:18, and 16:8, 9. These texts read: “And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.” Rev. 14:18. “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched [burned, margin] with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.” Rev. 16:8, 9.

In reference to these texts, the writer says:—

“The important question of this subject is, Has this angel of fire commenced to do his work as foretold in the Scriptures. We answer, There is much proof that he has. It is a fact that just such fires as the prophets predicted should come as special judgments in the last days, are rapidly increasing. It is known everywhere that incendiary fires are alarmingly on the increase. One writer has described this as being terrific in some parts of Russia, where the incendiaries’ torche lights up the heavens nearly every night.”

Besides this, he cites the recent destructive fires in Michigan and Canada, as proof that the angel referred to in the text, has begun his work. The veriest tyro could not have made a more fanciful exposition. The sixteenth chapter of Revelation is devoted to an account of the seven last plagues. The plague referred to by the article in question, is the fourth. If that is in process of fulfillment, then the first three must be in the past. Is this so? We read: “And the first angel went and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast.” “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.” “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.” Surely, these plagues are not of so trivial a nature that they can be poured out and no one be conscious of it, for we read that “in them is filled up the wrath of God.”

Again, these fires have destroyed the lives and property of all classes, good and bad; but when the plagues are poured out, only the wicked suffer, while the righteous are unscathed. “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Ps. 91:8–10.

But the writer adds;—

“This plague of fire comes while the men upon whom it falls are in probation, for they were charged with the sin of not repenting, which would be no sin if these plagues had not been designed to cause them to repent.”

The fact that in these plagues “is filled up the wrath of God,” Rev. 15:1, disproves this. Sinners can repent and find pardon only while there is mercy, but when the wrath of God is “poured out without mixture,” there is no mercy. Men may not repent for two reasons. One is because they will not, which is the case with those who do not repent at the present time. The other is because they cannot, which will be the case of those who suffer under the seven last plagues. Of Esau we read that “he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears;” and in Prov. 1:24–28 we are told that this at the last, shall actually be the case of those who persist in violating the commands of God.

But the theory in question is so absurd that in itself it does not merit so much consideration. And in this lies its only danger. People are becoming so used to such vagaries, that many will reject sound expositions of prophecy, without any consideration.

We firmly believe that the “day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly.” We do not pretend to know how near it is, but believe that it is so near that we have no time to waste in idle speculation. We believe that the following command should be fulfilled by the people of this generation: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1; but we do not believe that false alarms will make the inhabitants of the land tremble, but that they will have the opposite effect.

The coming judgments of God are of too serious a nature to allow of childish trifling. The words of prophecy which warn of their near approach are of awful solemnity, and are wonderfully clear and consistent. See Habakkuk 2:2. That false teachers and false expositors should arise, is not to be wondered at; but no one need be misled by these, if he will but remember that “God is not the author of confusion.”

The Missionary.

By John Norton Loughborough

ENGLISH MISSION.

WE are happy to report further progress in our mission work. During the last month two more have signed the covenant. As the result of SIGNS distribution, the way is opening for labor in other towns. In one of these places we expect to have meetings the first of next month.

We are getting some very interesting letters from those receiving papers sent out from this port on ships. On all these papers we place the stamp of this depository, and as these parcels go to East and West Indies, South America, Africa, and various other countries, a knowledge of the work is thus being spread abroad.

One man in Moscow, Russia, having learned by some means of our depository, sent for our "Catalogues." These were sent and he now writes to know if he can obtain the "Good Health" journal from the time of its first publication in 1866. As the result of correspondence with this man, I have obtained a few addresses, and he promises to secure for us others in Russia, of such as can read German or English.

From various parts we have received expressions of gratitude for the papers received, with promises to assist us in getting them before the people. One gentleman in South Africa was so much interested in the "Good Health" journal, that he wrote an article for one of the Natal papers calling attention to the journal. He also sent copies to the leading editor of Bloomfontein, who would quote largely from its columns for his paper.

This friend was anxious to assist us in placing our papers before the people of Africa. Of those already received he says, "I have distributed the copies to Kimberly, Groof Runeh, Craddock, Colesburg, Grobaustium, Queenstown, King William, Durban, and Nianzhere, where they will be highly appreciated, especially the illustrated ones." He had also sent samples to "Lovedale" and "Morija" Missions. He gives us a list of other places and persons who would gladly receive our periodicals and aid in distributing them to those who would read with interest.

In one of the English home ports, a gentleman who has been reading our papers with interest, has kindly offered to place papers on the ships of various nationalities calling at his port. We sent him the first parcel for this work last week. The parcels brought for us from San Francisco by the ship "Beta," Captain Christiansen, arrived yesterday. The barque "Maduro," Captain Stanton, whose wife united with the S. D. Adventists at Oakland, is now at Havre, France. The large case of periodicals for us placed in their charge has arrived at Southampton. We are anticipating a visit from Sister Stanton before they start on another voyage.

Sept. 20, 1881. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

ORLAND AND RICEVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

By E. A. Briggs

THE work in these two adjoining villages has been carried on under somewhat disadvantageous circumstances. The violent winds necessitated the storing of the tent; and as the tent master's children were dangerously sick, he had to hasten home.

Nevertheless nine earnest souls have taken hold of the third angel's message, determined to obtain at all events, with the blessing of God, the pearl of great price. Though much scattered and assailed, I trust they will prove faithful, and stand in the day of the Lord's appearing. One gratifying feature which I have noticed of late, is the respect which the Seventh-day Adventist Message receives from the public. Nearly everyone seems to know something of it; and the schoolhouses are readily opened for its proclamation. October 7, 1881. E. A. BRIGGS.

The Danger of Worldly Gifts

ONE of the worst misfortunes which can befall a church, is a money gift which makes it willing to relax its own beneficences, or which binds it, be it never so little, to the will of some worldling donor, who seeks to purchase the silence of pastor and congregation, and to go free from troublesome rebukes of his sins.

The Impotence of Anger

ANGER is the most impotent passion that influences the mind of man; it effects nothing it undertakes, and hurts the man who is possessed by it, more than the object against which it is directed.

Continue reading: DOES IT PAY?