p. 10 | The Message in Stone by J. T. BOETTCHER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 2, 1905

The Message in Stone

By J. T. BOETTCHER

J. T. BOETTCHER

“And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

From the illustration on the first page and the one which will appear in the same place next week, the reader may see how well some artists understood the prophecy of Daniel 7, as far back as the year 1617 A. D.; for the sculptor engraved in stone, over the portals leading into the Nurnberg (Bavaria) city hall, the symbols of the four universal kingdoms. We learn that they understood the meaning of these beasts, because next to the winged lion is Nebuchadnezzar; the bear with three ribs in his mouth, lies couched at the feet of Darius; the youthful Alexander reclines in front of the four-headed leopard beast; while behind the eagle-helmeted Augustus is the great and terrible beast, so true in detail that even the little horn is not missing. So far as we know, there is no other place in the world where the truth of God for our time is so strikingly portrayed.

For four centuries men and women have daily passed in and out beneath these powerful expositors of the prophetic Word, but it has been reserved to the messengers carrying the threefold message of Revelation 14, to preach to the inhabitants of this quaint old city, as well as to all the world, that these stone figures typify the overthrow of all earthly governments, and the ushering in of God's everlasting kingdom, which, like the “great mountain,” shall fill the whole world.

Not only is Nurnberg interesting to us because its city hall is an expositor of the Scriptures; for this city has played an active part in fulfilling the prophecy of Dan. 12:4. It is here that the first railroad in Germany was built—in 1835. It is here that the watch was invented (1500) by Peter Hele, and it was popularly called the “Nurnberg egg.” The organ and the piano pedals were invented in this place. The readers of the REVIEW may remember that some time ago an article appeared describing the “Iron Virgin of Nurnberg.” In the same old castle on the hill we saw other instruments of torture, of which we will speak at another time.

At present we have a church of about fifty members in Nurnberg. They are holding up the standard of truth amid great difficulties. Since 1808 there has been a law in force here, restricting religious liberty. It imposes a fine of from five to sixty marks for baptizing, or celebrating the Lord's supper, or holding any meeting whatever. As many as eight

policemen have entered our place of meeting at one time, and taken the name of each member present, and reported the same to the court; each person so reported was fined. Notwithstanding this fact, meetings are being secretly held, and eight persons were added to the company this last year. In Russia there is at present more toleration than in Nurnberg. We hope that our people everywhere will pray for the work there, that the truth may prosper even under such adverse circumstances.

It is clear that having the gospel so beautifully symbolized in stone has not materially forwarded the cause of freedom in this unique city; and it is just as true that for us to receive the mere theory of the truth will not influence our lives, nor prepare us for the life to come. We may go in and out of the house of worship year after year, we may be members of the most popular church in the land,—it is good to belong to the body of Christ, as manifested in his church on earth,—but these things profit nothing, unless the living gospel be planted in the soul, and we be preparing ourselves for the soon coming of the Promised One. Let us lift up our heads and rejoice, for our redemption draweth nigh.

Basel, Switzerland.