p. 507 | Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 32. (8/7/1900)

Earlier text: THROUGH HIS POLICY ALSO HE SHALL CAUSE CRAFT TO PROSPER IN HIS HAND

MODERN BABYLON IN PROPHECY.

By William Warren Prescott

The theme of what is usually called the prophetical portion of the book of Daniel is the same as that presented in the chapters already studied. The subject, though contemplating particularly Modern Babylon, is still the gospel of the kingdom. Daniel the prophet, the seer, sees the rise and fall of the successive kingdoms of the world, and the setting up of that kingdom “which shall not be destroyed.” He sees the long contest between the kingdom of heaven, the spiritual kingdom that is within men, and the kingdom of the world, the kingdom that is outward and fleshly; he sees the “dreadful and terrible” power that is exercised in the attempt to crush truth out of the earth, and to substitute a lie in its place; he sees that the union of the divine with the human, the true gospel of the kingdom, “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” brings victory in the great controversy; and he sees that a godlike character, righteousness, is the one thing that endures and gives stability. “Righteousness and judgment are the basis of his throne.” “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness.”

And so these visions of the course of empire until “the end of the days,” simply revealed in a wider range the application, in the experience of nations and kingdoms, of those same principles that had been revealed in Babylon through the faithful testimony of Daniel, the servant of the living God. What Babylon had seen in the history of Daniel, Daniel now saw in the history of Babylon in its widest application,—that loyalty to the God of heaven, seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, is the only basis of permanent prosperity. The writing of these prophecies was therefore the preaching of the gospel beforehand, and the teaching of them now “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” for what they really mean, will be the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom in all the world for a witness, “and then shall the end come.”

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven brake forth upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand upon two feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in his mouth between his teeth; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

“I beheld till thrones were placed, and One that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and he was given to be burned with fire. And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.”

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

“As for me Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (R. V.)

The interpretation of this vision is given on divine authority. Four successive world kingdoms occupy the whole field of history until the everlasting kingdom of God is established. The kingdoms that arise “out of the earth,” earthly kingdoms, have no permanent foundation, but the heavenly kingdom “shall not pass away.” This is individual experience applied to the nations, and it says to all, “As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthly; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.” “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

The simple reading of the record is sufficient to make it clear that it was not intended to be a history in detail of the four universal kingdoms that have borne rule over the earth, beginning with the Chaldean supremacy. The distinguishing characteristics of the first three kingdoms are given with brevity, and yet with a completeness sufficient to identify them beyond question.

Babylon, the head of gold of the second chapter, is here the lion, the king of beasts, and the eagle’s wings mark it as the “hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land.” The plucking of the wings, and the unsteady erect position “upon two feet as a man,” tell the story of its later degeneracy.

The kingdom that was to succeed Babylon and be “inferior” to it, that of the Medes and Persians, is designated by the prophet Jeremiah as “the spoiler,” and its career of conquest and rapine is fittingly represented by the bear, to which the command was given, “Arise, devour much flesh.”

The wonderful rapidity with which Alexander with a comparatively small army covered the long distances, subdued the Oriental world, and established the third universal kingdom, Greece, is set forth by the leopard with its four wings; and the subsequent division of his kingdom toward “the four winds of heaven” is indicated by the four heads.

Then comes the fourth beast, “terrible and powerful,” to which no name is given, but which is later declared to be “the fourth kingdom upon earth,” and that is Rome. A more particular interpretation of this symbol, and the ten horns, and the little horn with eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things, is given later in response to the special request of the prophet.

A judgment scene is then introduced. “Thrones were placed,” and “the Judge of all the earth,” “clothed with honor and majesty” and “putting on light as a robe,” whose glory was “like devouring fire,” presided. Another seer beheld this same scene centuries later, and thus describes it: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20: 11, 12.

While this judgment work is in progress, the attention of the seer is attracted by “the great words which the horn spake,” and he watched the career of this power until “he was given to be burned with fire.” This last expression, taken in connection with other parallel descriptions, identifies this horn with the beast whose prophetic history is given in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of the book of Revelation, and whose destruction is described in verse twenty of chapter nineteen: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet. . . . These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

In the same way there is the plainest connection established between the little horn of this chapter and the woman of the seventeenth chapter of Revelation, who sat upon seven mountains (the seven-hilled city), “arrayed in purple and scarlet,” and upon whose forehead was “a name written, a mystery, BABYLON THE GREAT.” The woman who wore this title was declared to be “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” This is the power known in human history as ecclesiastical Rome, but in the divine history as “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” And her end is thus described: “She shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and have lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.” Rev. 18: 8, 9.

It is thus made clear that the little horn of the seventh chapter of Daniel is modern Babylon, and this is the principal subject of the prophecy. The

four great kingdoms that are so briefly characterized in the description of the four beasts are simply so many steps leading up to, and locating, modern Babylon, “the mystery of iniquity.”

The connection between those portions of the book of Daniel usually designated as the historic and the prophetic is thus clearly shown. The prophecies of Daniel, as supplemented by the prophecies of John, recorded in the book of Revelation, and in connection with the prophecies of Jeremiah, were given to reveal the fact that the history of Babylon was to be repeated in the latter days, and to give such warnings and instruction as would enable all who are willing to separate themselves from Babylon to be saved from the everlasting destruction that awaits her.

It is thus evident that Babylon is the very incarnation of the idea of self-exaltation, in opposition to the revelation of the character of the true God as manifested in Jesus Christ, the meek and lowly One. Babylon therefore stands for man lifted up against God; for “that spirit of Antichrist,” which “confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh;” for salvation through the works of the flesh instead of righteousness by faith; for the traditions of the church made to take the place of a plain “Thus saith the Lord;” for “the mystery of iniquity” in contrast with “the mystery of godliness;” for the papacy, and the papal idea as opposed to genuine Christianity. All this will appear with greater fullness of detail in the next study, when the special work of the little horn as described in the prophecy will be considered.

The fourth beast, little horn and all, was “destroyed;” but the rest of the beasts “had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged.” When the Babylonian monarchy “met its death at the hands of Cyrus the Great, the nationality of the Chaldees was not swept away.” The same was true in the experience of Medo-Persia and Greece. “The ruling power was transferred, but the national life continued.” All three have been combined with the fourth kingdom, and will meet their death with it.

This is also shown in the description given of the beast (identical with the little horn) in the thirteenth chapter of Revelation: “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard [Greece], and his feet were as the feet of a bear [Medo-Persia], and his mouth as the mouth of a lion [Babylon].” Rev. 13: 2. Thus the whole world will perish in the fall of modern Babylon, except those who heed the call to come out of her.

W. W. P.

THE RELIEF OF THE SCHOOLS.

Do you realize what a Herculean task it is to get our schools out of debt? Do Seventh-day Adventists generally know that, roughly estimated, there are debts against our colleges and academies to the amount of about two hundred and ninety thousand dollars ($290,000), more or less? Of course the property is worth much more than this, as stated by Brother Lane two weeks ago. But, my brethren and sisters, you can see that it will take something more than ordinary contributions to pay these debts. We all believe this—I know we do! God calls upon us to pay these debts. He tells us that if we do, the jubilee song of freedom will ere long be sung throughout our borders. What more do we Seventh-day Adventists want than this? To reach this place is the grand ideal of experience longed for by every real lover of the second advent.

Suppose we never pay these debts, what then? Can God ever give us eternal life if we let things go in that shape? There is plenty of money among Seventh-day Adventists. Brethren, for God's sake let us awake and take hold with all our might to lift these obligations. We are in a solemn, serious place. God is asking us to do this. If God did not have confidence that we would do it, he would not ask us. Shall we betray the Master's confidence, or shall we be loyal to it?

Thus far we have had reported sales of between only eight and ten thousand copies of Sister White's new book, “Parables of Jesus, or Christ's Object Lessons,” that is to have the most prominent part in paying these debts. How long will it be, at this rate, before the debts are paid? Figure it out for yourselves, and then decide whether you think the Lord is going to wait that long. Come along now, everybody, and let us do something big in the way of giving. We have already done something big in the way of building; let us do something big in the way of paying for these buildings. Let us have a little of the old-time spirit that used to be in 1844, of selling a few farms and houses, and laying “the money at the apostles' feet.” Sell some horses or cattle, or property of any kind. Or, if you want to sell, and can't sell, what you have, write to us, and we will try to sell it for you if you will give the proceeds to the work.

There have been quite a number of pledges on the material fund; but the amount of cash that has been actually paid in is small. A large amount of money is needed immediately to pay for the getting out of the book. Please help us NOW.

R. A. Hart — $100 00	W. H. Gilmore — 50 00
S. L. Fox — 20 00	F. W. Patterson — 50 00
G. A. Irwin — 100 00	J. W. Newton — 50 00
H. W. Cottrell — 50 00	Mrs. Lars Nielson — 25 00
J. N. Loughborough — 50 00	R. Swetzer — 100 00
May Langford — 50	W. Stephenson — 5 36
R. N. Rockey — 5 00	Mrs. L. N. McMillan — 1 00
James Gargett — 50 00	W. F. Verner — 12 00
Minnie Ornwell — 50 00	Minnie Bruces — 50 00
J. H. Lowry — 25 00	Mrs. J. O. Green — 1 00
O. A. Raad — 20 00	Gertrude Kern — 11 00
Greenville Holbrook — 50 00	W. M. Fee — 50 00
W. T. Knox — 50 00	J. F. Weaver — 50 00
Alex Patton — 50 00	E Brown — 20 00
J. L. Whitney — 50 00	A widow — 50 00
Lloyd Manful — 50 00	E. G. Nelson — 50 00
Mary Lamont — 50 00	Susan Bugh — 200 00
Ella M. Nesmith — 50 00

Send all money for the material fund, or contributions of cash to help pay these debts, to A. G. Adams, Review and Herald, Battle Creek, Mich.

THE NOBLE SOUTH DAKOTANS.

By P. T. Magan

Times are hard this year in South Dakota. In many places the great drought has practically ruined the wheat. Everywhere the crops are short. This means that for the good people of that State there will be but little money this autumn, and that the closest economy will be needed in order to make ends meet.

“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift.”

The poor churches of South Dakota, of a truth, followed in the way of the churches of Macedonia. In the midst of their deep poverty the liberality of their souls abounded in generous gifts and offerings for the relief of the schools.

The camp-meeting was held at Sioux Falls, and it was not a large one. Many of the people had come by team because they could not afford to pay the railroad charges. Nevertheless, between eight and nine hundred copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” were subscribed for, and the following sums in cash and pledges were given to the material fund:—

Mrs. L. L. Casson........$ 25 00      E. A. Madison........... 5 00 Melvin Trosper.......... 25 00      Fred A. Powers.......... 25 00 E. L. Casson............. 25 00      J. H. Rogers............ 25 00 Mrs. Susan A. Bryant.... 25 00      Carrie Block............ 25 00 W. R. Irish.............. 50 00      Chas. A. Burman..........100 00 Elder H. R. Johnson...... 50 00      Daniel, Emma, and Bessie Nettleton..... 50 00 Dr. and Mrs. A. J. Kelsey 50 00      N. J. Ronlund, Jr........ 25 00 Lars Hansen.............. 25 00      John and Mary Conners... 25 00 W. O. Nesmith............ 25 00      Mrs. S. P. Boyngton.....100 00 Jane Le Fave.............100 00      W. F. Werner............. 25 00 C. F. Nesmith............. 25 00      Levi R. Mills............ 10 00 J. P. Glembin.............100 00      C. M. Excell............. 50 00 Albert Cheney.............100 00      A. P. Peterson........... 50 00 W. Y. Sanborn............. 25 00      C. F. Betts.............. 50 00 John Best................. 50 00      John Walker.............. 75 00 J. W. Christian........... 25 00      C. D. Terwillogar........100 00 Carrie Smith.............. 10 00      J. W. Beach.............. 50 00 Wm. E. Crandall........... 25 00      Mrs. Lars Nelson..........25 00 Jennie M. Shanks.......... 10 00      Cash..................... 29 75

P. T. MAGAN.

THE PAST AND PRESENT OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL MISSIONARY COLLEGE.

By David Paulson

A MEDICAL college whose scientific standing should be undisputed, and whose pillars should be placed on a gospel foundation, has been looked forward to for years by leading missionaries as a most desirable institution. It was to meet this demand that, half a dozen years ago, the International Medical Missionary Board organized the American Medical Missionary College.

The literary requirements for entrance were placed as high as those adopted by the best medical colleges in the country; and, in addition, the applicant was required to furnish satisfactory evidence that he possessed not only a good character in the ordinary acceptance of the term, but that he also possessed, and was cultivating, a real missionary spirit.

The curriculum provided for four years of study, consisting of nine months each, to include all those branches of medical science which the best medical schools have regarded essential in order properly to prepare men and women to enter the medical profession. In addition to these subjects, Bible and missionary topics have been taught. Special attention has been given to such practical subjects as dietetics, hydrotherapy, and other rational remedies, which are too frequently only touched upon incidentally in the ordinary medical course, yet their value can not be questioned, and a thorough knowledge of how to use them is often absolutely essential to secure the recovery of chronic patients.

In the first class, three of our students, after having spent three years in this school, entered the last year in a leading medical college, and were awarded medical prizes as marks of their proficiency as students. The students, after completing their four years' study, took a State board of health examination, and all passed with high records.

Although only a year has passed since these young men and women began their active medical missionary careers, yet each is already filling some important place in the work of helping suffering humanity, or in educating other workers to engage in similar work.

Of the class that graduated this year, one student entered another leading medical college in the East, to complete the last year's work; and before graduating from there he successfully passed the competitive examination, which entitled him to become house physician in a large city hospital.

The plan adopted whereby these young men and women found their places in the Lord's work, was perhaps a little unique. After graduation a year ago, a month was set apart for recreation for mind and body, for studying the mission fields and their needs, and also for seeking wisdom and divine guidance as to where each one should go. This month was spent at a beautiful spot on the banks of Gull Lake, a few miles from Battle Creek. As the days passed by, one by one these young persons became convinced of their individual duty; and when the time was up, so far as my knowledge goes, each knew what he was to do, at least so far as it concerned his immediate duty.

This year the eleven young women and ten young men who composed the graduating class went to the same spot, only, however, to spend a day in a similar manner. God had apparently already spoken to their hearts, and, profiting by some of the principles that had been made very clear by the previous year's study, finding where they were to go seemed comparatively easy. A ship must be moved before it can be steered, so it is not a difficult matter for God to direct us if we are only already moving out in his providences. Careful observation will reveal that those who are complaining so much because of not being guided, are the very ones who are anxious to be guided while they are practically lying still. Among those who spoke words of counsel and encouragement on this occasion were Dr. J. H. Kellogg; Elders A. T. Jones and E. J. Hibbard; and Dr. D. H. Kress, who had just returned from the British field.

Although only a few weeks have passed since that, yet nearly all these medical missionaries have either begun their active life-work or are making preparation to fill some place that is definitely in sight. It certainly has been gratifying to note how clearly God directs individual minds when they are submitted to him.

This school has already graduated forty-five students, and has eighty-five in training, while the prospects are that there will be many more applicants possessing the necessary qualifications than can possibly be admitted when the school year opens, September 26. The success that has already been attained is certainly an evidence of the special blessing of God, which has attended the efforts of teachers and

students. And we have every reason to believe that what Providence has already done is only a small indication of what will yet be accomplished through the agency of the American Medical Missionary College.

DAVID PAULSON.

NEWS AND NOTES

—Berlin, Germany, has a special department of theater censorship.

—President Castro has officially declared the re-establishment of peace throughout Venezuela.

—The Portuguese government has sent two regiments of soldiers to China, to guard her interests there.

—A Chinese tael is about two thirds of one dollar. In 1891 it was worth about $1.05 in American gold.

—Russia has declared martial law in the military districts of Siberia, Turkestan, and Semirechinsk.

—During the week ending July 29, 180 Filipinos were killed, and 60 captured; American losses, 10 killed and 14 wounded.

—Joseph Mayer, for many years the Christus of the Oberammergau Passion play, has been elected mayor of Oberammergau.

—In northern Mindanao, the killing of one American soldier was the cause of the death of eighty-nine rebels and the shelling of the town of Oroquieta.

—It has been stated by a Chinese general at Peking that the foreign ministers are held by the Chinese government as hostages, and that their death will follow a foreign advance on Peking.

—Strict precautions have been taken to prevent further outbreaks of rioting in New Orleans, by the ordering of troops to the armories, and the swearing in of five hundred special policemen.

—The war in South Africa is degenerating into guerrilla warfare, the Boers refusing to accept battle with superior forces, orders having been given to the commanders to fight only small bodies of the British.

—The British House of Lords has passed the bill empowering Queen Victoria to prohibit the exportation of arms and ammunition to any country, when “there is reason to believe that they may be used against the British forces or foreign forces co-operating with them.”

—Thursday, August 2, an attempt was made upon the life of the shah of Persia, Muzaffer-Ed-Din, who has been visiting the Paris Exposition. The attempt was made by an Italian, and “strengthens the belief in the boast of anarchists that they have marked four crowned heads of Europe for death. German officials believe the anarchist threats, and will take drastic measures to suppress the ‘reds’ in their jurisdiction.” The shah was unhurt; and having assisted in turning over the anarchist to the police, said, “I’d like to have a photograph of that man.”

—King Humbert, of Italy, was shot and instantly killed, at Monza, Sunday evening, July 29, by an Italian named Angelo Bressi. The king had been attending a distribution of prizes in connection with a gymnastic competition at Monza, one of his summer palaces. He had just entered his carriage with his aide-de-camp, amid the cheers of the crowd, when he was struck by three revolver shots fired in quick succession. He fell back, and expired in a few minutes. The assassin was with difficulty saved from the fury of the populace. King Humbert was born at Turin, March 14, 1844. Though he was really Humbert IV, by his own wish he was styled Humbert I. His father was King Victor Emmanuel, who died in 1878. April 22, 1868, Humbert married the Princess Margherita, of Savoy, daughter of the late Duke of Genoa. Her influence upon him for good can not easily be estimated.

—Chinese laundries in Chicago have failed, because of lack of patronage, due to race prejudice and the reported atrocities in China.

—Planters from Hawaii will endeavor to induce negro laborers to emigrate to that country, offering them traveling expenses and thirty dollars a month.

—Australia has sent $2,500,000 in gold to the San Francisco mint. Four more similar shipments are to be made, and will be paid for in Eastern exchange.

—The total strength of the United States army in the Philippines, June 30, was 63,426 officers and men. Of that number, 31,821 are regulars, and 31,605 volunteers.

—It is said that the governors of the Chinese provinces of Hunan, Hupi, and Honan have openly joined Prince Tuan, of the Boxers, and that they are marching overland with their armies, to Peking.

—The Chinese minister at Washington has received a dispatch stating, on the authority of two Chinese viceroys, that the foreigners in Peking were alive July 9, and under the protection of the government.

—It is reported that “an unfavorable impression is caused at Berlin by attempts of the Russian press to create distrust of Germany, in connection with the Chinese question. The inspired German organs insist that Berlin does not oppose the plans of St. Petersburg in the Chinese Empire, and that the future will demonstrate Germany’s perfect accord with Russia in Asia.”

—According to statistics, Spain has this year appropriated “for the support of the monks and secular clergy eleven million dollars of the public money, while for school purposes only three million dollars has been allowed. The monks are well nourished, and the school-teachers are well-nigh starved.” This is what Catholicism has done for Spain. July 11, 1892, there was published in this country, in the New York Sun, a letter from the Vatican, announcing the plans of Leo XIII respecting the United States, and through this, the world. In this letter are these words: “What the church has done in the past for others, she will now do for the United States.”

—About 50,000 German settlers inhabit a district in southern Brazil named Blumenau. It is said that “all these work hard, and are well to do and virtuous. There is only one prison; the jailer is well paid, but in the last five years there has been only one prisoner. The people have absolute faith in one another. Few visitors go there, and all the news comes through foreign papers. There is neither gas, electricity, nor telephones. There are no locks on the doors of the hotels. In the restaurants food is spread out on the counters; each helps himself to what he wishes, and deposits what he owes as he goes out.” This information comes from New York’s most reliable Christian weekly.

—A most curious proposition is that suggested from Switzerland, to unite Switzerland with the United States. A United States consul in that country has sent a publication to the government at Washington, in which an article says: “Though there are dark sides in the United States, it is full of the air of freedom. Switzerland would lose nothing if she should become a State of the United States of America. It is a well-known fact that the several States of the American Union are much more independent than the several cantons of Switzerland. . . . All she would have to do would be to send her representatives to Washington. . . . It remains to be seen what the Americans will say about this alliance with Switzerland. For a long time they have tried to gain a foothold in Europe!” Commenting upon this, the Christian Advocate says: “When it is considered that Switzerland exists only by the neutrality and consent of the surrounding Powers, and when the Monroe doctrine is taken into the account, nothing can be more fantastic. A State of the United States in the center of Europe, inaccessible by sea! Switzerland would lose something; but it will never have the opportunity. No one is jealous of it now. If it has to suffer from the protective tariffs of certain European countries, it must bear it.”

Continue reading: GENERAL CAMP-MEETINGS IN DISTRICT 6