Editorial by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 16, 1905

Editorial

By Editor

The Sin of This Generation

EVERY specific sin is, in its final analysis, a revelation in one form or another of the spirit of rebellion against God and his authority, and involves in principle the dethronement of God and the overthrow of the divine government. Every one who wilfully commits sin allies himself with the great rebel leader, and casts his influence in favor of the attempt to establish a rival kingdom in the earth. In the development of the great controversy between Christ and Satan there have come crises when this spirit of rebellion became so intense that there were plain manifestations of the divine displeasure, and those who had defied God so flagrantly that they had placed themselves beyond the reach of mercy were permitted to reap the fruit of their doings. Thus it was in the days of Noah, when “Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Thus it was at the time of the first advent, when “sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven.” In the former instance, “the flood came, and took them all away;” while in the latter, the Romans came, and took away both the place and the nation of the chosen people. We have now come to the third and final crisis in the controversy. In this generation will come the climax of the whole experience of rebellion against the government of God. It is the crisis of the ages. When he wept over the doomed city, “Jesus looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of his government in heaven and earth.” Our prayer now may be, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.” This is the sin of this generation.

The Warning to This Generation

In view of its rejection of God’s law, there is a decided message of warning to be borne to this generation. It is the message of “the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” An earnest appeal must be made to the people of this generation to return to their allegiance to God, and to be obedient to his law. “Satan is working to the utmost to make himself as God, and to destroy all who oppose his power. And to-day the world is bowing before him. His power is received as the power of God. It seems that the whole human creation has wondered after the beast. . . . See the activity, the restless surging of the mass in their determination to take and occupy the place of the throne of God. . . . Mark the defiant rebellion written in their countenances. Their warfare is against their Creator and Redeemer. . . . When the storm of God’s wrath breaks upon the world, it will be a terrible revelation for souls to find that their house is being swept away, because it is built upon the sand. Let the warning be given them before it is too late. We should now feel the responsibility of laboring with intense earnestness to impart to others the light we have received. We can not be too much in earnest.” It is God’s purpose that a warning shall be sounded throughout the length and breadth of the earth. “The most fearful threatening ever addressed to mortals is contained in the third angel’s message. That must be a terrible sin which calls down the wrath of God unmingled with mercy. Men are not to be left in darkness concerning this important matter; the warning against this sin is to be given to the world before the visitation of God’s judgments, that all may know why they are to be inflicted, and have opportunity to escape them.” The most determined effort is being made by Satan to divert the attention of the people from God’s warning message, but we must labor “with intense earnestness” to impart the truth. Let every one who believes this message have some part, directly or indirectly, in giving this warning to this generation.