No Time to Lose by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1905

No Time to Lose

By William Ambrose Spicer

TRULY, there is no time to lose. This truth was emphasized in the last week-of-prayer readings, in the following words:—

The judgments of God are in the land. The wars and rumors of wars, the destruction by fire and flood, say clearly that the time of trouble, which is to increase until the end, is very near at hand. We have no time to lose. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecies of the eleventh of Daniel have almost reached their final fulfilment.

We see these troubles breaking upon portions of our mission fields, and here and there bringing our brethren into very straight places. In Japan and Russia the war has brought very grave trial to some of our brethren. Amid it all, however, the work has moved forward. The word comes from Germany that the sale by canvassers of the book “Great Controversy” and a book on Daniel has been prohibited by the lower courts. This prohibition is on account of the references to the papacy, and interpretations showing the papacy to be the subject of prophetic symbol. No doubt the higher courts will reverse such a decision, but this is just an indication, showing how quickly in different lands plans which we can readily follow now might be made impossible. Surely it is not without reason that the testimonies of the spirit of prophecy have emphasized the importance of getting our literature out and of selling our books throughout all lands.

Prophecy is fulfilling remarkably before our eyes, and the message is being pushed on from one land to another; elements of opposition long foretold are arising; just before us are the times in which the work will be closed up amid difficulties such as we have seldom experienced in the past, but with a measure of power and blessing which will give the truth victory. The things that we see, however, are truly trumpet calls to service. The man who is indifferent now, or listless, is like a sleeping sentinel in the face of the enemy. W. A. S.